Narratives of national struggle : exploring gender, empowerment, and the Palestinian National Movement through the life stories of four Palestinian women

Abstract

In this thesis submitted for a M.A. Degree in Middle Eastern Studies, I seek to present the life stories of four Palestinian women who were active in the Palestinian national struggle during the Revolution period in Lebanon, characterized by the presence of the PLO and Resistance fighters and institutions from 1969 to 1982, and who continued to be active in some form of national work in the post-Revolution period. I define Palestinian national work as taking part in activity to enhance the capacity of Palestinians to liberate and return to their homeland and practice self-determination, but I believe this is also determined subjectively. Through these stories, I seek to trace the shifting roles and forms of women’s participation and involvement in national work throughout different historical periods in the Palestinian national movement. I have divided the stories into four historical periods, based on critical junctures in history that seemed also to be present in the narratives of the speakers: the pre-Revolution period (1948-1969), the Revolution (1969-1982), the Israeli invasion and the War of the Camps (1982-1987), and the post-Revolution period (1987-present). In recording and examining their life stories, I seek to explore themes of gender, nationalism, and national struggle, paying particular attention to the subjectivities of the speakers and how they perceive their role as women in the national struggle as they recall and recount their life histories. I seek to question, interpret and redefine the notion of ‘empowerment’ as it surfaces in various forms through the personal stories of these women throughout the different historic periods of their involvement in national struggle.