The Status of the Arab Women in Israel: Trends, Changes and Factors

Abstract

The term “the Arab society in Israel” represents about one-fifth of the country’s population, with about 80% of the population being Muslim, 12% Christian, and 9% Druze. This is a traditional society, based on the definition of the complex family and the place of each member in this family. The roles reserved for women within this society, especially among Muslims, are domestic roles, linked to marriage and children, the maintenance of the home, and rarely leaving it (Fichtelberg, 2004).

Despite the advancement of the status of women in Israel in general, and women in Arab society in particular, they are still women who are in a weakened position, who fall victim to violence within the family, including by the spouse (Zaatut & Haj-Yahia, 2016) and are in a status of women who do not work, study or are in any kind of training (NEET) (Haj-Yahya, Schnell, & Khattab, 2018). However, this situation is gradually changing. In this article, we will discuss a number of changes in the status and beliefs of Arab women in Israel, as well as known factors affecting the existing situation and the possibility of changing it.