Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind The Veil (Deborah Rodriguez)

Deborah Rodriguez

medium Paperback

some Wear

curly Corner

&Nbsp;
Soon after the fall of the Taliban, in 2001, Deborah Rodriguez went to Afghanistan as part of a group offering humanitarian aid to this war-torn nation. Surrounded by men and women whose skills as doctors, nurses, and therapists seemed eminently more practical than her own, Rodriguez, a hairdresser and mother of two from Michigan, despaired of being of any real use. Yet she soon found she had a gift for befriending Afghans, and once her profession became known she was eagerly sought out by Westerners desperate for a good haircut and by Afghan women, who have a long and proud tradition of running their own beauty salons. Thus an idea was born.

With the help of corporate and international sponsors, the Kabul Beauty School welcomed its first class in 2003. Well meaning but sometimes brazen, Rodriguez stumbled through language barriers, overstepped cultural customs, and constantly juggled the challenges of a postwar nation even as she learned how to empower her students to become their families breadwinners by learning the fundamentals of coloring techniques, haircutting, and makeup.

Yet within the small haven of the beauty school, the line between teacher and student quickly blurred as these vibrant women shared with Rodriguez their stories and their hearts: the newlywed who faked her virginity on her wedding night, the twelve-year-old bride sold into marriage to pay her family s debts, the Taliban member s wife who pursued her training despite her husband s constant beatings. Through these and other stories, Rodriguez found the strength to leave her own unhealthy marriage and allow herself to love again, Afghan style.

With warmth and humor, Rodriguez details the lushness of a seemingly desolate region and reveals the magnificence behind the burqa. Kabul Beauty School is a remarkable tale of an extraordinary community of women who come together and learn the arts of perms, friendship, and freedom.

 

About ReadMatter 

Readmatter Bookshop has proudly served customers on Bobshop since 2008. As a verified seller, we offer a trustworthy shopping experience, maintaining an impeccable 100% positive rating from our buyers. With three strategically located depots across the greater Gauteng area, all orders are promptly dispatched from our Johannesburg North branch. Shop with confidence at Readmatter!

Can't find a book anywhere? We can help

We network with other booksellers to source the books you are looking for. Looking for a specific author or title? Let us know in the comments and we will try find it for you. We have access to over 100 000 books.

Condition & Availability 

All our books are secondhand unless stated otherwise. Since we operate a network of physical stores in addition to our online presence, and update our Bobshop inventory only at the close of each business day, there may be occasions where items listed as available online have already been sold in-store. In such instances, we will provide a full refund promptly.

Readmatter is the proud sponsor of Penguins "Blikkies" and "Bos" at the East London Aquarium.   

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0557/3856/4685/files/DALL_E_2024-05-09_14.56.05_-_Hyper-realistic_image_of_an_African_penguin_in_a_side_profile_holding_a_bag_overflowing_with_books._The_bag_prominently_displays_the_text_readmatter_6fd786fb-6cc1-45c2-a78b-6e1637c66a9e.webp?v=1715769713