Palestinian-Arab Communities: Women and Their Bodies

Cover of El Mara Wa Kayanua (Arabic)Publication

Al Mara wa Kayanha (2011)

Translation: Women and Their Bodies

Language

Arabic, for Palestinian women living in Israel

Our Bodies, Ourselves Project

Women and Their Bodies published “Al Mara wa Kayanha,” an Arabic adaptation of Our Bodies, Ourselves, in 2011.

The book provides Palestinian women resources to understand and protect their health rights, and offers health care providers a comprehensive view into the reality of Palestinian women’s lives in Israel.

“Al Mara wa Kayanha” is a product of a journey that lasted many years; a journey inspired by OBOS’s story of women joining together in a common struggle for social justice. It received tremendous support from women across the region, many of whom shared their experiences and expertise.

As a result, it integrates the experiences of hundreds of Palestinian women on the complicated issues affecting their lives — including their minority status and its impact on economic, political, and social marginalization and access to health care — along with a critical feminist vision that aims to secure legal and social justice for all. It is an invaluable addition to existing feminist literature for Arab women and girls.

“Al Mara wa Kayanha” was the first of its kind in research, scope and stories in the Middle East. It was originally driven by a working group within Women and Their Bodies charged with envisioning, planning and implementing consensus-based decisions on the scope and format of their materials.

This working group, informally called the Counseling Forum for the Arabic Book, comprised Nabila Mana, Arabiya Mansur, Raghda Alnabilsy, Safa Tamish and Dana Weinberg. Alnabilsy, an editor of “Al Mara wa Kayanha,” attended OBOS’s 40th anniversary symposium in 2011 and took part in a panel on challenges to autonomy and activism, which can be viewed online.

The OBOS Global Initiative provided extensive support, most notably with project start-up and envisioning, as well as fundraising and promotion. OBOS also helped increase access to this resource and has posted excerpts online (see below).

Content Available Online

The following Arabic chapters are available in PDF format.

مقدمة ورؤية مستقبلية  (“Introduction”)
صورة الجسد  (“Body Image”)
الصّحة النفسيّة  (“Emotional Wellbeing”)
الجهاز الجنسي والتناسلي للمرأة، الدورة لشهرية والوعي للخصوبة  (“Sexual Anatomy, Reproduction & the Menstrual Cycle”)
الأمراض المنقولة جنسيًا  (“Sexually Transmitted Infections”)
متلازمة نقص المناعة المُكتسبة – الإ  (“HIV & AIDS”)
العلاقة الجنسية الآمنه  (“Safer Sex”)
إبطال الحمل )الإجهاض  (“Abortion”)
سن الأمان  (“Midlife & Menopause”)
المرشد في جهاز الصحة وتسييس صحة المرأة  (“Navigating the Health Care System”)
التنظيم من أجل التغيير المجتمعي  (“Politics of Women’s Health & Organizing for Change”)

How to Obtain Print Copies

For information on obtaining copies, please contact Women and Their Bodies: info [AT] wtb.co.il

Community Action & Activism

The Counseling Forum for the Arabic Book was an informal working group that brought together Arab women across the region to advance health literacy, health outcomes and human rights of Arab communities around the world.

“I know how to talk to my teenage daughter and not repeat the mistakes that were made with me.”
– Community member

Outside the working group, members work individually, together and in collaboration with other organizations to create change. They have expertise in developing social welfare projects, sexuality education and training, and special education.

Raghda Alnabilsy, Ph.D., an editor of “Al Mara wa Kayanha,” is a researcher at Ruppin Academic College and the academic head of the Arab students’ unit at the dean of student. Her research interests focus on marginalized populations, particularly ethnic and gender exclusion, such as Arab-Palestinian women victims of domestic violence, children and adolescents exposed to abuse in Israel, and students in academia from minority groups. She aspires is to develop an innovative knowledge domain in subjects such as ethnic, social, cultural, political, and class contexts in Israel and their connection to social work practice.

Arabiya Mansur, who did the linguistic and cultural adaptation and editing, develops and drafts projects in the realm of social welfare.

Safa Tamish is the founder of Muntada — The Arab Forum for Sexuality, Education and Health. Created in 2006, Muntada responds to the health information needs of Palestinian women and girls, focusing on sexuality and reproductive health. Programs emphasize informed decision-making in the community and trainings for providers working on sexuality and reproductive health. In 2019, the BBC produced a wonderful video about the workshops Safa leads.

Nabila Mana is co-chair of Women and Their Bodies and coordinates the organization’s projects in the Arab sector.

A large team of nurses, doctors, photographers, artists, linguistic editors and interviewers brought energy and passion to this project, ensuring the Arabic resource will have many secure bases for distribution, consciousness-raising, and action.

Contact

Website: http://www.wtb.org.il
Email: info [AT] wtb.co.il