Conflicts; cooperation; women’s organizations; divergent identities
WP Sessions 2008
Center-Periphery Relationships – from a Feminist Perspective
The fourth session took place in March 2008 in Kibbutz Regba. The discussion was convened by Smadar Sinai (head of women division in the Kibbutz movement). The panelists were: Prof. Batya Kristal (West Galilee hospital), Kamela Mussa (Catering entrepreneur), Dr. Yehudit Avrahami Einat (Ort-Braude College), Dalia Eyal (director of “Ma’avarim Ba’emek”), Dr. Avigail Mor (Tel-Chai College).
The speakers elaborated on how the distance from the center influences the quality of medical services, supportive services for battered women and other services, offered to the population in the periphery. A critical analysis was proposed with regard to women organizations’ involvement in the periphery. It was argued that interacting with women from various peripheries feminists from the “center” behave arrogantly and patronizingly.
Femininity and masculinity in Israeli society
The fifth session took place in June 2008 in El-Kassami College in Baka El-Garbia, and was hosted by Dr. Muchamad Issawi, the head of the College. Ragda Massalch (El-Kassami) moderated the discussion and the speakers were: Dr. Rivka Nardi (writer and family therapist), Dr. Dalia Fadili (Dean of students in El-Kassmi), Dr. Gilad Padva (Beit Berl College and Tel Aviv University), Dr. Samir Zuabi (El-Kassami) and Shlomit Lear (PhD student in Tel Aviv University).
The speakers examined issues related to sexual identities in the in the Arab society and in the larger Israeli society. Some skeptical queries were raised in relation to widely accepted assumptions on “manhood” in the two sectors and on the construction of gendered identities in the public domain.
WP Sessions 2007
Current Feminism in Israel
The fourth session took place in Tel Aviv, in March 2007. It was organized with Smadar Sinai, head of the unit for advancing women in the Kibbutzim, who also convened the discussion. The speakers were: Dr. Erela Shadmi, Dr. Rivka Nardi, Rula Dib, Dr. Gilad Padva, Dr. Orna Sason-Levi, Vered Madar.
The discussion focused on the developments of Israeli feminism and its impact on various groups and spheres. Among the issues that were discussed: the connection between feminist activity and vision; processes of personal change that a woman goes through on her way to feminist activity; personal perspective of the feminist activity in the Arab society; the impact of Feminism on the development of a different “Newmanism” in Israel; Feminism in a military society and identity issues in relation to being a Mizrachi feminist woman.
Sisterhood – A prospective reality or an illusion?
The fifth session took place in Lev Hasharon regional council, in May 2007. It was organized with Hadasa Russo, the advisor of the council’s head on women’s issues and the Women’s Forum. The council’s head, Shyie Itzchak hosted the event. Dr. Mira Chenik convened the discussion and the panelists were: Prof. Chana Herzog, Ora Gafni, Linda, Zipi Nachshon and Dr. Chana Kehat.
The presenters offered their experiences and interpretations for the lack of solidarity among women as individuals, groups and organizations. Relating to various contexts such as religious-secular women’s relationships, “prostitutes” and “decent” women they expressed the despair, on the one hand and the hope on the other in regards to the chances to change the grave situation. A play by Ibtissam Machmid and Yonat Klar emphasized the yearning for solidarity and sisterhood, for love and mutual support between Jewish and Arab women.
WP Session 2002
Feminism and I
The Parliament session in October 2002 took place in Hertzlia. Merav Michaeli convened the discussion. The participants on the panel were: Esther Eilam, Yali Hashash, Liora Minka, Dr. Erela Shadmi. The discussants elaborated on the role of Feminism in contemporary Israel and suggested different visions for its future development.