The historical axe I’m grinding with Saliha’s character is not to prove there were sexy, independent sidekicks back in the day. Maybe there were, but that is not my point. I am telling the story of a woman who refused to be controlled by men, with all the attendant risks, and, through her character, opening a door to the lives of urban medieval women of her class.

In tenth century Baghdad, the rich and poor no matter their gender wore similar styles of clothing differing mainly in types of embellishment and quality and quantity of cloth. The gender-queer might mix styles subtly, obviously, switch styles completely, or not at all. Social class and position determined how much of a person’s body would be covered in public and the quality and quantity of the fabric.