Despite the overwhelming daily challenges, the under-represented community of Bedouin women of the Negev region marks its roles in the societies of these women through different women-led initiatives and organizations.
The Bedouin community in the Negev region still holds its Palestinian identity along with its distinctive Bedouin culture. Yet, Bedouin women are still subject to the social patriarchal challenges that limit their active participation in their communities.
Bedouin Women for Themselves is one of the earliest initiatives directed to empowering Bedouin women in Israeli settlements.
“Bedouin women face hardships on both Bedouin society and Israeli society. Many times they lack the tools and strength to deal with their problems. Together as a group, we believe women will find the power needed to start change,” as stated on their website.
One of their main goals is to provide mentorship and services for young mothers, along with professional training workshops that shall facilitate the job-seeking process for Bedouin women.
Another prominent organization in the Bedouin community is the Sidreh organization that works on projects that provide Bedouin girls and women with alternative access to education. Their programs are designed to align with the curricula provided by the Ministry of Education.
Besides the educational programs, the organization seeks to foster the Bedouin identity and mobilize it for financial resources. Among their initiatives, the Lakiya Weaving initiative is an example of how Bedouin women can produce distinctive products in a financially rewarding way. Moreover, the organization provides a network of weavers and shops as they promote the products through their website.
According to the Sidreh organization, 11% of Bedouin girls have completed high school while there is still a 61% high school dropout rate, leading to an unemployment rate of 90% among the Bedouin women population.
Institutional barriers and lack of infrastructure are one of the educational challenge’s faces. Yet, the cultural barriers of the patriarchal society also prevent Bedouin girls from accessing a sustainable educational experience.
Women of Laqiyya is another organization that offers educational and cultural programs by providing books for schools to encourage students to develop reading habits, for instance.
One promising side of the Bedouin field of associations is the rising international support and funding. Successful gender programs in the Negev area are attracting international institutions and donors who believe in gender equality, mainly the UN and its organizations.
Bedouin women’s challenges have slightly shifted from hardships related to farming and collecting water to education opportunities and effective representation.
