Women Speak on Politics

Women's issues and politics in the Middle East cannot be completely separated, said Rabab Hadi and Simona Sharoni in a lecture last night at Boylston Hall to crowd of about 70 people.

Hadi, a Palestinian journalist and activist, and Sharoni, an Israeli peace activist and feminist, said being women and political activists is difficult because of restrictive cultural norms and media misrepresentation.

Hadi drew an angry reaction from a few outspoken members of the audience after detailing Israeli cruelties toward Palestinian women.

In a tense 45-minute question-and-answer session following the speeches, several audience members said they doubted Hadi's stories of Israeli brutality and asked her why she didn't focus on the mistreatment of Palestinian women by their won people.

Many other audience members, however, urged the questioners to sit down and listen better to Hadi and Sharoni.

In the speech. Hadi stressed the important role women have played in social change in the Mideast.

"Whenever there was political movement [in the 20th century], women have been part of it," she said, despite gender barriers.

Hadi added, however, that Palestinian women in Israel have often had to choose which goal comes first national liberation, gender equality or economic justice.

Sharoni echoed Hadi's statement saying Israeli women who wanted to discuss politics in a women's issues forum were silenced by the majority of women who believed that "society cannot handle these things yet and that women should tools only on gender questions.

Sharoni said she is proud whenever she is called a "traitor" by Israelis because it means that she is "able to play with the borders of identify."

Sharoni, though, criticized the "simplified views" of feminist peace activists who believe that because women have nurturing qualities we are better able to make peace."

Hadi said that although the women's movement in the Middle Fast is fighting an uphill battle, women's committees in the region are working on a women's agenda and" strategies for change."

These strategies include furthering research studies and developing internships for women, as well as supporting women's studies programs in a Middle Eastern university, Hadi said.

The event was presented by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and the Society of Arab Students, and was co-sponsored by the Radcliffe Union of Students and the Middle East Justice Network

Many other audience members, however, urged the questioners to sit down and listen better to Hadi and Sharoni.

In the speech. Hadi stressed the important role women have played in social change in the Mideast.

"Whenever there was political movement [in the 20th century], women have been part of it," she said, despite gender barriers.

Hadi added, however, that Palestinian women in Israel have often had to choose which goal comes first national liberation, gender equality or economic justice.

Sharoni echoed Hadi's statement saying Israeli women who wanted to discuss politics in a women's issues forum were silenced by the majority of women who believed that "society cannot handle these things yet and that women should tools only on gender questions.

Sharoni said she is proud whenever she is called a "traitor" by Israelis because it means that she is "able to play with the borders of identify."

Sharoni, though, criticized the "simplified views" of feminist peace activists who believe that because women have nurturing qualities we are better able to make peace."

Hadi said that although the women's movement in the Middle Fast is fighting an uphill battle, women's committees in the region are working on a women's agenda and" strategies for change."

These strategies include furthering research studies and developing internships for women, as well as supporting women's studies programs in a Middle Eastern university, Hadi said.

The event was presented by the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and the Society of Arab Students, and was co-sponsored by the Radcliffe Union of Students and the Middle East Justice Network