In her essay “From the Prison of Women: Narratives of Third World Women's Prisons,” Barbara Harlow argues that solidarity that transcends race, gender, class and other social factors Social categories are an essential part of the fight against oppressive forces. She also claims that Firdaus' affiliation with the psychiatrist in Nawal El Saadawi's novel Woman at Point Zero ultimately allows Firdaus to share her story and be part of the collective struggle against "the authoritarian political structures and patriarchal hierarchies of the Egyptian society” (Harlow, 512). . However, throughout the novel Firdaus continually turns to prostitution as a way of life, and it is her decision to become a prostitute that raises the question of whether or not Firdaus can truly challenge the social order of her society . For example, Harlow argues that Firdaus objectifies her body and sells it in a way that places her in a subordinate role to men. Rather, it could be argued that as a prostitute, Firdaus gains more power and independence than other women in her society. Ultimately, Firdaus gains a degree of power and independence by proving to herself that she "owns" her own body and that she is the one who determines her own destiny. Therefore, Woman at Point Zero challenges "the social order that has assigned women to a subordinate position under the control of their male partners" (Harlow, 512) as Firdaus controls the way she uses her body as a prostitute to gain power. and independence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay The first time Firdaus becomes aware of his own power is when Sharifa introduces him to prostitution. Sharifa is the one who, through the skillful application of cosmetics, helps Firdaus see his inner beauty and strength. Firdaus claims that Sharifa opens her eyes to invisible features of her face and body, making her more aware and understanding. And it is with the help of Sharifa that Firdaus discovers that she has “black eyes with a shine that attract other eyes like a magnet” (Saadawi, 58 years old). For Firdaus, beauty is a way for her to control her own body. For example, a man does not determine how Firdaus' hair will be styled, what clothes she will wear, or how her makeup will be applied. Rather, it is Firdaus herself who determines her appearance. Therefore, Firdaus uses her beauty to attract and tease the men in her society. And by staying with Sharifa, Firdaus learns that she is the one who determines his own worth. Instead of seeing his nose big and round, Firdaus begins to see him with “the fullness of a strong passion that can turn into lust” (Saadawi, 58). She begins to embrace her appearance, which in turn increases her self-confidence, something she once lacked as a child. By accepting her beauty and increasing her self-confidence, Firdaus is able to gain power and control, thus challenging the assertion that men control women. Although Firdaus learns to appreciate her beauty under Sharifa's guidance, Firdaus decides to leave because she realizes that she must earn her own money if she is to gain her own power and independence. And shortly after leaving Sharifa, Firdaus sleeps with a man who gives her a ten pound note. This is the first time Firdaus realizes that to gain power, independence and respect, she must acquire a lot of money. WhenFirdaus goes to the restaurant and gives the ten pound note to the waiter, she is treated with respect and she realizes that it is the first time in her life that she has eaten "without being watched by two eyes looking in [ his] plate to see.” how much food [she] took” (Saadawi, 71 years old). The waiter even bows to the table with a movement of “respectful humility” (Saadawi, 71) while he collects the money from Firdaus. This shows the control Firdaus has over him, which in turn gives her a feeling of power and superiority that she has never felt before. Meeting the waiter also helps Firdaus understand how she can use her body in a way to earn enough money to live independently. Firdaus' apparent control also supports the claim that Woman at Point Zero challenges the social order that traditionally places men above women. After leaving the restaurant, Firdaus begins to believe in herself: she stops lowering her head or looking away. Instead, she walks the streets with her head held high and her eyes turned toward her. She even exclaims: “My steps touched the ground with force, with a new exaltation” (Saadawi, 73 years old). As men pass her on the street, Firdaus uses her control by declining the men's invitations. She mumbles no several times, which leaves them perplexed. One of these men constantly asks Firdaus: "Well, why not?" and Firdaus responds confidently: “Because there are many men and I want to choose who to go with” (Saadawi, 73). As an independent prostitute, Firdaus begins to choose which men she will and will not sleep with. She also decides what food she eats and what house she lives in. For this reason, Firdaus begins to believe in his own independence. In prostitution, Firdaus' body becomes hers, and she can do with it what she wants. Firdaus even has free time to go to the cinema and read books. She uses her free will, which once again calls into question the assertion that men control women. Despite Firdaus' achievements as an independent prostitute, her power is questioned when her friend Di'aa declares that Firdaus is not a "respectable woman" (Saadawi, 76). However, because Firdaus is so determined to be a respectable woman, she decides to look for work in an office rather than on the streets. Firdaus gets a job but then she realizes that the men in the office think they can take advantage of her by increasing her salary. Firdaus scorns them for thinking such a thing, saying that "the price of my body is much higher than the price that can be paid with a salary increase" (Saadawi, 81). She believes that as a prostitute, she was viewed with much more respect and valued than all the female employees. Firdaus says she “feels sorry for other girls who are naive enough to offer their bodies and physical efforts every evening in exchange for a meal or a good annual report” (Saadawi, 82). Unlike these women, Firdaus does not let men break her pride. For example, none of the officials are able to force Firdaus to lower his head or look down at the ground. Although Firdaus is able to maintain control as an office worker, she decides that prostitution might be a safer path to dignity and self-determination than the "respectable" life of an office worker. After quitting her job, Firdaus returns to the life of an independent prostitute, where she continues to challenge the social order by gaining even more power..