Discrimination of Palestinian women in education, employment and in the family

Abstract or Introduction

The paper is about the discrimination of Palestinian Women. The position of Palestinian women is very sensitive because they are part of different marginalized groups and therefore face multiple layers of discrimination and exclusion. They are discriminated against as women in Israel, as Palestinians in Israel and as women in the Palestinian society. The two main reasons of the discrimination are the traditional patriarchal norms and values and the occupation with its consequences, which together configures a high gender inequality. This discrimination often results in gender-based violence as sexual violence, intimate partner violence and child marriage.

Palestinian women are given the role of preserving and transmitting the culture as well as the burden of bearing more children to ensure the continuation of the Palestinian people. The community’s ethnic identity was strengthened by defending their honor. In this way “family honor” serves to defend the restriction of women’s freedom and their inferiority. All women must follow certain rules of behavior and their success is determined by her ability to measure up to the social expectations transmitted to her through her family.The more stereotypical characteristics she internalizes, the more favorable she will be looked upon by her environment.