“The tribesmen are always in search of treasure...and women of the desert are proud of their tribesmen.” (Coelho 89)
“I’m a desert woman, and I’m proud of that. I want my husband to wander as free as the wind that shapes the dunes. And, if I have to, I will accept the fact that he has become a part of the clouds, and the animals, and the water of the desert.” (Coelho 91)
When Santiago talks to Fatima, she informs him about the tribal community that all wives wait for their husbands to complete their adventures. Although the support from Fatima facilitates Santiago's mission to find his personal legend, this surpresses the status and rights of females in the desert society, because they are seen as dependent affiliations of their husbands.
Stereotypes enhance the relationship between Fatima and Santiago, because Fatima believes that women should be completely devoted to their families and marriages. They are not allowed to converse with other men. Yet, their relationship is only peaceful because fortunately, Santiago is a responsible and non-violent adventurer. In the patriarchal society described in the book, it is common for men to lose their lives in the desert, and women will be left in a life of loneliness and restrictions. If women experience domestic violence, which is not expressed in the book but is prevalent in the realistic society, they also do not have the right to seek assistance. Thus, Fatima and Santiago's case is a minority, and stereotypes and standards towards females result in low living qualities and self esteem for females in a macroscopic view. When young readers come across this popular book, they might believe in the views of the main characters. This is currently happening in a lot of communities around the world, as children are educated such that they believe men and women have their respective roles in society, which cultivates a prejudiced new generation.