Proceedings of The 6th Global Conference on Women’s Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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The Factors Influencing the Empowerment of Women in Bedouin Society in Israel
Yehudit Salfati
ABSTRACT:
This qualitative study examines the factors influencing the empowerment of women in Bedouin society and the role of academic education in their personal and professional development. Bedouin society, which is a patriarchal society, has traditionally prevented women from leaving their villages. Moreover, as a rule, it did not allow women to acquire an academic education. Today, more and more Bedouin women are acquiring an academic education and are first generation university/college students. This research, which was rooted in feminist theory, advocates for the establishment of political, social, economic, and personal rights for Bedouin women, and for an improvement in their status. The sample was comprised of 47 Bedouin women: 25 B.Ed. students, 12 Masters’ students, and 10 lecturers in the College of Education, some who hold significant roles. The research tools included a semi-structured questionnaire and an in-depth interview with 15 participants, five from each category. The findings show the following factors that influence women’s empowerment in Bedouin society: acquisition of Hebrew – Israel’s official language; place of residence; parental and family attitudes about women’s education; and access to academic education. The study’s conclusions indicate the importance of removing the language barrier at a young age and the significant advantage of making academic education accessible, in order to empower women in Bedouin society.
keywords: academic education, Bedouin women, feminist theory, language acquisition