Umm Khaled’s experience in the patriarchal society
teaching certificate. She then became a teacher, a math and science teacher in an elementary school level in Jerusalem.
“I’m working this year as a math and science teacher in an elementary school here in East Jerusalem. I teach third graders. It’s school for girls only.
I like my job. I like teaching the students and they like me too, no doubt about it.”Gorkin, 1996:33
Marianne’s experiences in education field is similar to what Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics: Women and Men has revealed, that Palestinian
community colleges, especially females, comprise the overwhelming majority of academic, social work, and para-medical graduates 1997:38. It also revealed that
the proportion of female teaching staff decreases at higher levels of the educational system.1997: 40
Because of the education itself, the ways of her thinking were broadly opened. One of it was the religion aspect in her. She states that she is not an
observant Muslim in the way she dress. “I just don’t like wearing the religious garb – dresses that cover the arms
and legs, head coverings. I like to wear skirt and short dresses.” “I know my mother, and I guess my father too, doesn’t feel I’m religious
enough.” Gorkin, 1996:21 Those decision-making on the way she dressed, lead to her views towards
fundamentalists who looked down on women and too strict about the dresses that women should wear.
“Look it’s all right, I’ll wear the hejab and the long dresses. So? Our problem is not what we wear, this or that dress. The important things is what
women’s place will be in the society – honourable or not. It’s not the fundamentalist who are forcing us to dress modestly. Islam demands that of
us, it’s part of the religion. But look, I know there are some fundamentalists who interpret Islam in an erroneous way. They use the religion to come
down on woman. One of these fundamentalists are much too strict with women, always watching them to make sure their behaviour is absolutely
proper, always checking to make sure nobody is looking at women. This is not the way to be. I’m against that type of thing.” Gorkin, 1996:32
She also discussed Palestinian kids who joined and involved in intifada. They were all uneducated and not learn anything. Without education like that, they
were for sure going to serve Israel as the simple workers, the cheap labor in Israel’s economy. She thought that Palestinian people need educated people to build a
Palestinian state. She also said that she will support Hamas, but one condition: everyone is permitted to express their own views. Also, in a state run according to
true Islamic principles, women have their rights. “I mean, the right to education, to work, to choose a husband. The
fundamentalists here, Hamas, agree with this. They support women’s right to get an education and work alongside men, on the condition that women
be dressed modestly and behave properly.” Gorkin, 1996:32
According to Freeman in Women a Feminist Perspective 3
rd
Edition, all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain
inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the persuade of happiness 1975:493.
Besides, Marianne also stated that in the Palestinian society, the existence of male-dominated is more valuable than the women side. It made Marianne
thought that in male – dominated society does not mean that men have more value
than women. Women are just as valuable as men. Similarly, Marianne thought that women should get more attention and recognition, especially in Palestine, a country
where women are at a disadvantage. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI