Feb
Arab working women in Israel get short end of stick
PHOTO: Palestinian women and children in south Hebron. flickr creative commons.
Researchers at Israel’s Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry say that Arab women are the most exploited force in the Israeli work force, according to an article in Ha’aretz. Long working hours, low wages and cultural expectations are all factors to consider.
According to the researchers, Arab working women in Israel make 47 percent of what Jewish women make.
Arabs in Israel are a conflicted group: They live in Israel, and get some of the same benefits that Israelis do, but they are Arab. Some are Muslim, some are Christian.
Some families encourage women to work, while others frown upon it. A lot of these women are educated; according to the researchers, one quarter of the women not participating in the workforce had a high school diploma or college degree.
A PBS story on Palestinian widows in the Arab Israeli town of Tamra starting a pickle factory outlines some of the struggles these women face in raising their families and making money to keep their lives running.
Although education is crucial to empower women no matter what part of the world, some women like these pickle-making widows have skills that can be used as a source of income, if only they are given a chance.
Palestinian women are particularly talented in embroidery and in addition to sewing for themselves, many also do it as a source of supplementary income.
