Non-natives are given very different interpretations of the West through various forms of text. The tales of The Arabian Nights have been sent around the world to be translated. This particular one was translated by Husnin Haddowyt and gave an outside perspective of the true meaning of Arabian culture. The tales are a combination of stories that Scheherezade tells a king to prevent herself from getting killed. In past centuries, women were treated as property and looked down upon. They were often compared to men and discriminated against. This culture developed a hierarchy, leading the men to be on top and the women to be much farther below. They were treated very negatively and even sexualized. This condescension of women diminished their roles in society and overall culture. 

Present in most cultures around the world, especially the West, men were held on a pedestal. They were the head of the household and the most important in their society. Everyone looked up to the men. They defined the standard for life and success. On the contrary, women had no power, no respect, and most definitely little to no role in society. In the Middle East, women had roles dictated to only appeal to men. Their lives were dictated by the needs of the men. The tale of the Porter and the 3 Ladies, portrayed women in a way that summed up the way all men view them. The following quote, “and saw how much they had stacked of wine, meat, fruits, nuts, sweets, fresh herbs, candles, charcoal, and the like for drinking and carousing,” shows that the man viewed these women as his servants. They were carrying food for the people and the man included that in his description of the women. This fits with how the rest of the culture viewed women. Judging from the fact that women are “supposed” to be surrounded by men, we can see that Arabian women had little to no freedom. It seemed that their sole purpose was to care for the men. They were ordered to carry food so that is what they did. The end of the quote states “and the like for drinking and carousing.” It can be inferred that drinking is also another thing the women are allowed to get involved in. Women are supposed to have a “fun time.” Adding to the fact that women had no freedoms, all interactions were to be carefree. The use of “drinking” in this quote follows the hierarchy of gender. Drinking was often associated with social interactions; it was implied that women drink and have fun because that is all they are good for. The Arabian women in the tales were just getting food for themselves but the man couldn’t fathom them attending to their own needs. It is almost like he was stating that women aren’t their own people and were only there to be a distraction from the “real world”. They aren’t to be taken seriously so the men enjoy spending time with them and socializing. The men encourage the hierarchy and further divide by making stereotypes against women. 

The interpretation of Arabian culture, from the tales, created many negative stereotypes about women and their role in society. It stemmed from the hierarchical idea that men are always on top and women are just present. Building off the claim that women are in existence for the benefit of men, women were always expected to have a man in mind to please. This connotation diminished the individuality of women. Women are allowed to be present for themselves and not go on with life for the pleasure of men. In the quote from the tales of the Porter and the 3 Ladies, the next sentence comes from the porter who was immediately shocked to see women doing something to fulfill their own needs. “[W]ithout seeing any man around, he was very astonished and stood there,” implying a shocking reaction of the man when the women were simply carrying food for themselves. The implication that women weren’t expected to do something for themselves and not anyone else, as stated in the quote is barbarizing women. The man was shocked that women could exist without men. The fact that women were walking somewhere with another woman and not interlocked arms with a man caused so much confusion. It is astonishing to see the cultural norms of that time and that these standards continued to go on for decades. The use of a hierarchy to symbolize the unfair treatment of women has become a recurring idea throughout the Tales. The porter in this quote is most likely an Arabian man who grew up with the morals that women that exist for the sole purpose of men. Everything they do is for the men, with the men and to the men. “…but I have been wondering about your situation in the absence of anyone to entertain you.” The most agitating part of this quote is the word “entertain.” He is implying that women are either children or dogs but insinuating that men need to make them happy or busy. Women are not allowed to have emotions driven from an internal source. The man was looking for a man, stating that it would be weird for a woman to be walking alone. The power divide between men and women is very prevalent because the men “own” women. These quotes accurately show how men view women and the fact that women can’t live individually. 

The Arabian culture of the Middle East shown through the Tales shows the maltreatment of women and the way men overlook them. Men have all the power in their culture. “For as, a table needs four legs to stand on, you being three, likewise need a fourth.” This quote metaphorically shows that women need men for support and to “complete” them. A table wouldn’t be complete with 4 women, because a man always needs to be included. It is dehumanizing for the women when the men believe they are the backbone of society. Not only are they belittled, but are continue to be told they aren’t worth anything. In this context, the table is used to symbolize a strong relationship, culture, and world; and that men are needed for all of this. 

“The pleasure of women is not complete without men.” Once again, the tales provide more claims following the idea that women are not women without a man. They don’t exist to be themselves, have a family, or work a job to get money. This quote is leading the readers to believe that women are viewed as property. Men have ownership over them. To say that something is not complete without another thing is taking the independence out of something; in this case, it is women. The divide between men and women is depicted in that women exist for men. This quote not only entitles women but it sexualizes them by stating that the only pleasure a woman can have is something only a man can give them. In their culture, women were viewed to only exist in a sexualized manner. They didn’t have jobs and didn’t have individuality. Men are powerful and dictate what others can and can’t do. They have the most power in Arabian culture. Women unfortunately don’t have the privilege to be their own people. 

Men are the stepping stones of their culture and women are just their distractions. The tales of The Arabian Nights demonstrate the lack of power of women and the clear hierarchy created in their culture. The Middle East had very distinct differences between the roles of men and women. Women were sexualized and used to please the men. The negative connotation was accurately conveyed to readers and translators. The stereotypes created by the tales give outside cultures a false interpretation of the Middle Eastern Arabian culture. Readers are led to believe that Arab culture oppresses women.