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Amal Elsana Alh'jooj at the World Affairs Council

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WAC: Connecticut

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Amal Elsana Alh'jooj Chooses Her Husband to Study Abroad

06 min 53 sec

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Arab-Israeli Women's Rights activist Amal Elsana Alh'jooj recounts the cultural norms she violated after marrying a man of her choice from another tribe in order to pursue a graduate degree in Canada.
At 17, Alh'jooj Is Considered First Bedouin Feminist

04 min 21 sec

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Arab-Israeli Women's Rights activist Amal Elsana Alh'jooj describes her experience as the first Bedouin woman to attend university in Israel.

On her first day, she was cast as the "first Bedouin feminist," which her father interpreted as: "American women who are dancing in the streets and burning their bras."
Alh'jooj Changes Bedouin Patriarchy from Within

03 min 29 sec

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Arab-Israeli Women's Rights activist Amal Elsana Alh'jooj discusses her strategy of working within the patriarchal system to improve women's rights.

By using "traditional resources," Alj'jooj "opened the door" for many Bedouin women to attend university, marry the man of their choice, and participate in women's groups.
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51 min 45 sec

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Previous FORAtv comments:

eehervey

Posted: 10.25.09, 08:59 AM

When one looks at this conference, he could be surprised by the number of people who opposed her. She had to overcome her father, her mother, her sisters, her brothers, her uncles and aunts, her village, her community, her values and traditions but still she made it. This story might give the impression that the people around her were all against her. Although it is true, it is not the completely accurate. I am not suggesting that they did not do everything they could to stop her but I am saying that I am saying that they were not that much in opposition. A more careful observation of their interactions and the reasoning behind them can change our vision of who is the victim in this affair. Even though she had suffered a lot because of her entourage, they made her go through all these difficulties because they were also the victim of something that is larger than them. The relentless opposition she will encounter was due to the fact that they were acting under their pursuit of happiness. If people do not understand that they were acting under the sole motivation of the happiness of the whole, they will miss the entire story. Indeed, what they have been taught over the years and should I say over centuries is that much of their happiness will come from their acceptance of some rules and regulations that are the bases of their traditions and values. When each family follows those rules, it maintains stability, honour and the whole family, village and their community will remain united. Therefore, women are supposed to behave a certain way and men are there to make sure that they do behave that way and they will do everything that is in their power to reach that goal. Now, are men used this context to abuse women? The answer is: “definitely yes”. Are women in a submission position in this context? The answer is: “absolutely yes”. Should something be done to change this situation? The answer is: “600% yes”. Having said that, I believe it would help review the reaction of all the parties involved. Let’s take for instance her father. Although he wanted nothing else than to see his daughter being happy, there was nothing he could have done to erase the context he was raised in. His duty was to enforce the traditions not only because it was showing his masculinity but also because the survival of his family within their community was at stake. If he had not acted the way he did, they had the power to affect his family revenue. What could he have done against that? Should he sacrifice all his family just for this daughter? What was he supposed to do? Her father is as submitted to the culture and its traditions as his daughter is submitted to him. He is the victim of the system under which they are living. If you want to read the whole response, please go to www.crazyreal.wordpress.com and read the page "Who is the victim"

eehervey

Posted: 06.13.09, 07:21 PM

She is the best and i love her definition of feminism