So. I have to be up at like 6 am tomorrow. Its 9 am now. I have a feeling i'm not gonna sleep well. probs cuz an hour ago i had coffee. WOOPS. whatever.
So... my past week. I have been working like a dog. Long hours, crazy days. Some highlights:
We did a show in Herzliyya. The EU Ambassador's wife (who is super cool) is really good to our organization. She has a gorgeous house and has hosted us before for events. This time, it was for the International Women's Club and the Diplomat Spouses Club. I walked in, and I felt like I was at a sorority open house. some things never change huh?
We started off on the wrong foot cuz we were late. People got lost, it was raining (which can be pretty intense/cause traffic around Tel Aviv). So I was rushing trying to help out, and I broke a chinese vase. It was one of those slow motion moments where you're like
No no no NOOOOOOOOO
Since then: I went to a press conference releasing an alternative plan to the Prewar Plan. Background: the prewar plan is a government plan to move people from unrecognized villages (over 40) into 7 recognized settlements, essentially urbanizing the Bedouins. This will move over 30,000 people, compensate them with only 50% of their original land claims. The Bedouins only claim 6% of the Negev, and much of the Negev isn't even settled. People have been on these lands for generations, and moving them would be destructive, and expensive. It's hard to believe that in Israel, land of cell phones, and cutting edge technology, some people don't have electricity, running water, or access to public transportation.
It was cool because Sidreh is at the forefront representing the women's views on these plans, and making sure to address their specific needs in the alternative. Hanan, who is our community engagement manager, even spoke, being the only Bedouin women to do so at the press conference. It's good to know that Bedouin women's issues are incorporated in this political movement.
It's interesting to me how Feminism can be different and yet similar in Upper middle class white America and Bedouin Israel. In many ways they differ: issues of mobility, employment, and health are very different for these groups. While in America we fight for equal pay, the Bedouins fight for work, especially those that they can do in their local area. In America, we fight for the right to have an abortion, while the Bedouins fight for the right to see a doctor locally, and in Arabic.
And yet, in some ways, they face similar issues of being seen in relation constantly to men. The first question I am always asked here is: are you married, do you have a boyfriend etc. Mostly because at 22 I am of prime marrying age in Lakiya, and EVERYONE gets married. There is a huge amount of social pressure to marry. I won't name names, but I heard a story of one woman, who nearly became a 3rd wife. She's around 30, which is old in Lakiya. She almost accepted this marriage, because one of her brothers was pushing this marriage. Women are certainly making strides, but still are seen in relationship to their husbands, and their sons. This can be seen in how you address mothers respectfully. Instead of their first name, you say Mother of x (usually her son).
This pressure to attach yourself to a man, reminds me of the States. People may not like it but in America we have a social narrative of women must marry. Mostly that something is wrong with the woman if she isn't married, and if she fixes it, then she will fall into line
-27 dresses. Neurotic woman, always a bridesmaid, finally reforms and marries.
-In Her Shoes, goes from a work aholic, to an active, happy woman who marries
-Knocked Up, neurotic, work obsessed woman, accidentally gets pregnant. Learns to let go, trust a man (and become somewhat submissive). They get together and create a nuclear family unit.
-Crazy cat lady stereotype. Never married, all alone, with cats. It is HER fault she didn't marry, cuz she's insane and prefers cats.
So people say: it's just the movies, it's just a story. These are stories that we tell ourselves, and resonate with us. Like fairy tales, they reinforce certain ideas in our heads. In these cases, we are reinforcing sexist ideas about women, and marriage.The vast majority of the stories we tell about women force their identities to revolve around others, specifically men. Women who don't marry are shamed into feeling abnormal because they are not in solidified relationship to a man. I say that's bullshit, and we must begin to tell stories about women that do not revolve around romance, and men. Even worse, we then make fun of women who overly focus on relationships/finding boyfriends when we create the very pressure on them to do so! This is one of the many reasons I am proud to be a feminist.
so, that's it for today. I'm gonna leave you with a link to Khadra Elsaneh's story. She is the General Manager of Sidreh/Lakiya Negev Weaving. This is some background on her life and the beginning of Sidreh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvSZHhZO8gQ
hopefully more stories of people from Lakiya soon!
Much love,
KAS
So... my past week. I have been working like a dog. Long hours, crazy days. Some highlights:
We did a show in Herzliyya. The EU Ambassador's wife (who is super cool) is really good to our organization. She has a gorgeous house and has hosted us before for events. This time, it was for the International Women's Club and the Diplomat Spouses Club. I walked in, and I felt like I was at a sorority open house. some things never change huh?
We started off on the wrong foot cuz we were late. People got lost, it was raining (which can be pretty intense/cause traffic around Tel Aviv). So I was rushing trying to help out, and I broke a chinese vase. It was one of those slow motion moments where you're like
No no no NOOOOOOOOO
She saw, and she had this pained look. All I could say was "I'm so sorry". Her reply "it's ok, it was mostly sentimental"
my. heart. broke. Afterward, I was far more careful. Still felt terrible. YAY GUILT! Still, the women were very receptive, and they bought a ton. We sold over 4,000 USD within 2 hours. That's a good day.
It was cool because Sidreh is at the forefront representing the women's views on these plans, and making sure to address their specific needs in the alternative. Hanan, who is our community engagement manager, even spoke, being the only Bedouin women to do so at the press conference. It's good to know that Bedouin women's issues are incorporated in this political movement.
It's interesting to me how Feminism can be different and yet similar in Upper middle class white America and Bedouin Israel. In many ways they differ: issues of mobility, employment, and health are very different for these groups. While in America we fight for equal pay, the Bedouins fight for work, especially those that they can do in their local area. In America, we fight for the right to have an abortion, while the Bedouins fight for the right to see a doctor locally, and in Arabic.
And yet, in some ways, they face similar issues of being seen in relation constantly to men. The first question I am always asked here is: are you married, do you have a boyfriend etc. Mostly because at 22 I am of prime marrying age in Lakiya, and EVERYONE gets married. There is a huge amount of social pressure to marry. I won't name names, but I heard a story of one woman, who nearly became a 3rd wife. She's around 30, which is old in Lakiya. She almost accepted this marriage, because one of her brothers was pushing this marriage. Women are certainly making strides, but still are seen in relationship to their husbands, and their sons. This can be seen in how you address mothers respectfully. Instead of their first name, you say Mother of x (usually her son).
This pressure to attach yourself to a man, reminds me of the States. People may not like it but in America we have a social narrative of women must marry. Mostly that something is wrong with the woman if she isn't married, and if she fixes it, then she will fall into line
-27 dresses. Neurotic woman, always a bridesmaid, finally reforms and marries.
-In Her Shoes, goes from a work aholic, to an active, happy woman who marries
-Knocked Up, neurotic, work obsessed woman, accidentally gets pregnant. Learns to let go, trust a man (and become somewhat submissive). They get together and create a nuclear family unit.
-Crazy cat lady stereotype. Never married, all alone, with cats. It is HER fault she didn't marry, cuz she's insane and prefers cats.
So people say: it's just the movies, it's just a story. These are stories that we tell ourselves, and resonate with us. Like fairy tales, they reinforce certain ideas in our heads. In these cases, we are reinforcing sexist ideas about women, and marriage.The vast majority of the stories we tell about women force their identities to revolve around others, specifically men. Women who don't marry are shamed into feeling abnormal because they are not in solidified relationship to a man. I say that's bullshit, and we must begin to tell stories about women that do not revolve around romance, and men. Even worse, we then make fun of women who overly focus on relationships/finding boyfriends when we create the very pressure on them to do so! This is one of the many reasons I am proud to be a feminist.
so, that's it for today. I'm gonna leave you with a link to Khadra Elsaneh's story. She is the General Manager of Sidreh/Lakiya Negev Weaving. This is some background on her life and the beginning of Sidreh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvSZHhZO8gQ
hopefully more stories of people from Lakiya soon!
Much love,
KAS
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