‘I Carry Out Small Wars’: The Impact of Women's Studies on Palestinian and Jewish Students in Israel

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of young Palestinian and Jewish women graduates of the Women's Studies program at an Israeli research university. Relying on in-depth semi-structured interviews it finds that although most of the respondents registered in the program without a clear idea of what it was, most found their exposure to Women's Studies highly beneficial and enjoyable. All shared a strong sense of empowerment. This sense of empowerment fostered the formation of solidarity with other women. In practice, however, the expressions of empowerment and solidarity were limited mostly to the respondents' immediate social circle. Respondents identified two common issues around which future activity could be organized: equal employment, and a restructuring of the school schedule. The study concludes that despite fears, Women's Studies programs continue to play a crucial and formative role in feminist mobilization, presenting feminist ideas to a new generation of women, and planting the seeds for future feminist action.