When Deborah Feldman published her memoir in 2012, "Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, it caused quite a stir in the ultra orthodox Jewish community, resulting in her rejection from the community. Especially considering the physical and sexually abuse by her grandfather. She was even compared to Joseph Goebbels. The same could also be said for Lucinda Schmidt.
When she published her memoir, "A Separate God," about her life as a young Amish girl, and the abuse she encountered from her husband, she soon found herself exiled from her community as well. Another book, "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, recounts her struggles growing up as a fundamentalist Muslim in Africa, subjected to genital mutilation and other horrors.
There's a pattern with these books. All three of these women come from communities which see them as second class citizens. Which, inevitably, will make them the loudest critics. And that's why these communities made the mistake: By viewing women as less than, they created a very strong counter point. It's easy to praise a community, when you're held in high esteem. Only time will tell if these exposees have any impact on the communities their written about, forcing them to look at their ancient cultures and ultimately force them to join the 21st century.
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