Sunday, April 7, 2013

Blog 8: Gender Segregation in the Classroom in Gaza



            Recently, in the Hamas government in Gaza has passed a new education law that upholds gender segregation. This law also bars men from teaching at girls’ schools and the integration of boys and girls in one classroom. This law raised many flags and has brought massive criticism, including the accusation of Islamizing Palestinian Society. At a conference on March 31st, Osama Muzaini, the minister of education in the government of Hamas, officially announced the adoption of the new law and fully supports the law because it is concrete and not based on customs. However, not everyone thinks of this law as “helping” or “improving” the education system. The Center for Women’s Legal Research and Consulting (CWLRC) in Gaza does not support this law because they believe it is yet another attempt to control the rights of women and insists that it will do nothing but hold the country back from progressing. Although CWLRC is against this law, the article states that in the customs and traditions of the Palestinian community, gender segregation is required. Although the law is set in stone, it has raised many fears of restrictions on women through gender segregation in all institutions.
                Although, it is a part of the Palestinian customs and traditions, I cannot support this law in any shape or form. In agreement with the CWLRC, this law is just another attempt to hold the women back and control their daily lives. I was in shock when I read the article because I was thinking that this has to be illegal, but I forgot where I lived. In America that is completely illegal and it just shows the difference in customs and beliefs. I don’t see how it will help with socialization because it is just saying that women and men are not equal.
Bria Broadway 04/07/13 1:59pm
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/04/gaza-education-law-gender-segregation.html

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