The role of the Palestinian Women movement in national action (1917-1948)

Abstract

This study aimed to shed light on the role played by Palestinian women’s

movement during a critical stage of the Palestinian National action , which is

the period of the British Mandate over Palestine in (1918) , and the resulting

of the Jewish entity on the majority of the Palestinian land. Therefore, the

importance of this study , its objectives and methodology of research upon

which it was built , came to fit with its goals. To achieve this , the study dealt

with the stages of struggle in Palestine during that period , and showed the

nature of the role and the activity that was provided by Palestinian voluntary

women institutions in order to support national action in all stages , starting

from the first Palestinian revolution (1920) , which marked the beginning of

the national women’s institutions , and their awareness of the seriousness of

the Palestinian situation at that time. This is what enhanced the awareness of

the importance of preparedness for national action , especially in the Buraq

Revolution (1929) at that stage the women movement has been engaged in all

areas of struggle , and has doubled its various associations , strengthened

its presence and expanded its work. That’s what enabled women to play an

important role in the revolution of (1936- 1939) , and in all fields: political,

military and social. This also enhanced their cooperation and contact

with international and Arab women’s movement , earning a regional and

international recognition, that made them an important part and a key

component of the Palestinian national action and struggle. .

The study concluded that the Palestinian women movement has begun

with the literate women of Palestine, and recommended that the Palestinian

women movement be given a bigger role in the Palestinian public work.