Saman Shad: Sex, Shame and the Stories We Don't Tell

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Author Saman Shad joins SBS Spice to unpack desire, silence, and the stories South Asian women are still told not to tell. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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We’re having sex, getting married, getting divorced — so why are we still not talking about it? Author Saman Shad joins Suhayla Sharif to talk about what happens when we finally do. Her new novel The Sex Lives of Married Women lays bare the weight of being good daughters, model migrants, and women taught to want less. From 90s rom-com nostalgia to the strength of female friendships, Shad unpacks how colonialism and patriarchy have shaped how we think (or don't) about pleasure. A brave, funny, and moving conversation about intimacy, friendship, and the freedom to want. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

When I told a South Asian writer friend the title of my book, she said, ‘Geez, you’re brave. We don’t talk about this in our communities.’ And I thought — maybe it’s time we did.
Saman Shad on the title of her book, The Sex Lives of Married Women

SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and the SBS Audio app. Or tap the audio player to listen to the full episode.

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