"A new group running for municipal elections in Hebron is offering residents
an alternative to politics as usual in the conservative West Bank city: Women at
the helm, instead of men.
The all-female list, which is called “By
Participating, We Can,” is gearing up for next month’s vote with a campaign that
aims both to win at the polls and to convince voters that women can lead just as
well as men. “Men here traditionally want their women to stay at home,
and when they allow them to go out to work, they send them to do traditional
jobs like teaching,” said Maysoun Qawasmi, the 43-year-old group leader, who
entered the race this week. “But we want them to go further, to work like men in
all possible jobs they can.” The group is fielding 11 previously independent
candidates for the Oct. 20 vote. Should the bloc succeed in garnering
significant public support, the women hope to ultimately unite and form an
official political party. But the women are well aware of the challenges
they face in conservative Palestinian society, and the chances of an all-woman
ticket performing well at the polls - for now at least - appear slim. Qawasmi said the candidates are campaigning door-to-door to attract what
they see as their natural electorate … fellow women. If elected, Qawasmi
promises to open women-only facilities, like a sports club … an idea that has
faced opposition by religiously conservative Muslims in Hebron who believe it is
immodest for women to play sports." (thanks Layali)
