Women still struggling

Involvement in the Palestinian Revolution has meant for the Palestinian woman a process of shaking off years of tradition; however, they are still only in the middle of this process.

Leila Khaled, a well-known militant from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), explains the particular stage she sees the Palestinian woman as being at, at this point of time......

"Just as the Palestinian man has revolted against the colonialists and their repression, social and economic subjugation, so too has the woman. In addition, the woman is in revolt against her social status, which hitherto has tied her hands, and against her traditional role; traditions and customs, together with the economic structure, which compels her to be totally dependent on men, make it very difficult for the woman to decide to join the revolution, and even more difficult to act, once that decision is made.

"This does not mean we have solved the problem of women's liberation. In reality, what we have achieved is more than what our adversaries had expected, but less than what we ourselves hoped to ahcieve. Much time and effort is requried for this kind of struggle. Liberation will no doubt be achieved when there is a real change in the ownership of the mans of production. This will then liberate women economically and make it possible for her to gain total liberation, that makes more sense, and produces bigger and better results.