Main content

Dolls - A Woman From Damascus

Dolls - A Woman From Damascus

In a traditional Damascene milieu, Manal is challenged to cherish her excellence as a housewife. Still, she insists on chasing a personal dream of getting back to work. Fulla, a new doll, has become the "Dream of Every Arab Girl" with sales skyrocketing. Fulla is the ideal Arab Muslim 'Barbie' from 15 years ago, a virgin, decent, covered, who is raised up to become a respectful, obedient wife, and to live the grace of family's and society's approval.

Manal's husband is waiting outside her office with the car, clearly irritated. She is rushing out from the building asking him to give her 15 more minutes: her boss wants her to finish an article for the newspaper. But the kids are waiting. Manal, as many other women in Syria, has a good education and quality work experience from before she got married. And she wants to put that to use - or does she? As Manal insists to get hold of all ends together insistently and restlessly, her two young daughters are mesmerized by a smiling face they see on TV every day. For here comes the Arab phenomenon doll, Fulla. Behind Fulla's smile is her marketing manager who particularly knows that Damascene society traditions are top-selling products. And that by personifying these traditions alone, Fulla as the ideal Arab Muslim virgin and respectful and obedient wife was able of pushing Barbie off her throne not only in Syria, but throughout the Arab world.