Feminist Attitudes and Praxis Among Palestinian Women Activists

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the nature, patterns, and determinants of feminist attitudes and praxis among Palestinian women who are politically active in national and/or women's movements. The novelty of the study lies in its use of multidimensional operational definitions of feminist attitudes and praxis. Previous research is limited to qualitative research performed on small samples with limited conceptual and operational definitions for the term "feminism." Results of the survey on 205 women activists indicate that the feminism of women varies according to the domain of feminism. The majority of women (over 60 percent) support gender equality in access to health care, nutrition, education, employment, wages, inheritance, protection from domestic violence, and autonomy over sexuality and reproductive issues. However, fewer women (less than 50 percent) support gender equality in domestic roles and freedom of movement for women. Women have also achieved more rights vis-à-vis access to health care, nutrition, education, employment, inheritance, protection from domestic violence, and certain forms of autonomy in sexual and reproductive matters than they have in domestic roles, wages, and actual freedom of movement. In addition, we observed that the determinants of feminism vary with its various dimensions and indicators. The issues that require major changes to gender structures and relations are not readily accepted by society; a woman's willingness to support such changes necessitates higher socioeconomic positioning. Actual levels of education, employment, and income are not significant vis-à-vis attitudes toward gender equality in employment opportunities; however, these variables have a significant effect on attitudes toward gender equality in freedom of movement.