Family is a big part of Palestinian day to day life. Not only is family important, but being extremely loyal to one’s family is a necessity in their culture. Also, males are prefered and seen as more powerful in Palestinian culture compared to women. This is no secret. A baby boys birth is celebrated as a big party with relatives. Palestinian families are mostly large and usually contain four to six children per family. Usually, the children will play and keep to themselves in the household unless they are ordered to do a task. Most Palestinian teenage girls will cover their heads or wear a veil once they reach puberty. Women in the family will prepare meals with one another in the kitchen and the men will congregate in a room and discuss politics or other important affairs.
Traditionally, patriarchal relationships dominate Palestinians social relations and family lives. For the most part, the father is the man of the house and is responsible for the families needs and lifestyle. Also, the father’s power goes unchallenged and he will expect loyalty, respect, and obedience from the children and women in the family. Children in Palestinian culture are for the purpose to help raise the status of the family, help make a living, and to carry on the family name. Overall, men are leaders and are protectors over their family and this is viewed as an honor. The reputation of a family is judged by their honor and how honorable their family and especially how honorable the women are. Women are expected to dress modestly, have self-restraint, and to keep their sexuality to themselves. Sadly, honor killings are not that unheard of and are even referred to as an ancient tradition in Palestine. Even if a woman is stabbed, beaten, or shot, her death will more then likely be ruled as a suicide. Thousands of women every year are killed due to honor killings and sometimes are even killed in public while people cheer. The man of the household can easily divorce his wife; however, for a wife to obtain a divorce is very, very rare. Also, men can receive their families inheritance compared to women.
Women seem to get the short end of the stick in Palestinian culture. They are allowed to get educated but it depends upon the wealth and status of the family. If the family does not have enough money to educate all of their children, they will send the males off for education instead of the females. Since the Koran states that women should cover their bodies, more women abide by this and hide their bodies but their face, hands, and feet. It is possible for some Palestinian women to be allowed to wear Western conservative fashion, but this is way less common. Usually, Christian women in Palestine will wear Western clothes and most Muslim women will wear a Hijab and Abaya. Most marriages in Palestine are still arranged; therefore, the women usually marry who their parents pick for them. ALso, polygamy is not totally banned. The Jordanian Family Law states how Muslim women are bound to monogamy, but a Muslim man can have up to four wives. Palestinian wives are responsible to upkeep their home, meet their husbands wishes and commands, and they are responsible for work in the fields. If the family has fields they must care for the animals and such as well. Today, some Palestinian households have the women keep track of their finances and others do not. It depends on the preference of the man of the household.
I am pretty disappointed with the fact that my stereotypes about the Palestinian family and gender dynamics were pretty spot on. I would have guessed that this society would prefer males and give them more rights. Unfortunately, I learned that honor killings were way more accepted in Palestine then I thought it would be. What I did learn was that women are allowed an education and that Palestine is not against women having one. However; some women just do not get the opportunity to one. This is the only stereotype I had that was disproven. I cannot judge Palestine that much because even in America boys are prefered and are seen as more powerful as well. Also, they are still seen as the head of the household and the provider. However, that is slowly starting to change in our society.
Sources:
http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/candi/2009/03/thob_traditional_dress_in_pale.html
