Muslim Women's Life Stories: Building Leadership

Sociocultural anthropology has long been concerned with the dynamics of change in so-called traditional societies. This article examines the gendered aspects of change within Israeli Arab society, analyzing the life stories of six women originally studied by Shapira (1999). The women came from traditional, male-dominant Muslim families living in villages or small cities in Israel as members of a national and political minority. They varied in age and socioeconomic and marital status, yet all were motivated to fulfill their educational and career aspirations. Negotiating cultural constraints, they assumed important leadership roles in their communities. We begin with a discussion of the segregated Arab educational system in Israel, highlighting historical and recent educational trends. We then discuss women's status in Arab society and Israel in particular, noting that teaching is a primary route for women's professional growth. Next we discuss life history in terms of a collective case study methodology and present the women's biographical profiles as related to educational-anthropological theories of change in traditional societies. We then examine women's higher education as a springboard for change through modeling and caring within the contexts of the family, school, and community. Finally, we propose thematic interpretations of the strategies the women used to advance themselves professionally and to promote changes within their society that will afford greater opportunities for women in positions of leadership.