October
9, 2002
Palestinian poll: A husband may beat his
wife if she hurts his manhood
By Itamar Marcus
Introduction:
A poll conducted in
the Palestinian Authority by a Palestinian public opinion company shows that a
majority of Palestinians are of the opinion that a husband may prevent his wife
from working, that a woman should strive to devote herself to her husband and
that a husband is entitled to beat his wife if he thinks that she "hurt his
manhood". Nearly half the Palestinians believe that neither law
enforcement nor social welfare agencies' intervention in husbands' violence
towards the wife is warranted, while at the same time a the majority calls for
tough punitive legislation for violence towards women. These two attitudes
are, it seems, not viewed as contradictory. One possible explanation is
that the support for punitive measures expressed by a majority of Palestinians
does not apply to a husband's violence towards his wife.
The
text:
“The Society for the Advancement of the Palestinian Working
Woman, in conjunction with The Palestinian Center for Public Opinion Polls,
conducted a poll under the supervision of Dr. Nabil Kokali, on the topic of
violence against women..."
- “56.9% of Palestinians feel that it is a husband’s right to hit his wife
if he thinks she hurt his manhood...”
- “59.1% of Palestinians feel that it is a husband’s right to prevent his
wife from working outside the home..."
- “66.4% of Palestinians declare that the crown of success of the
Palestinian Woman is devoting herself to the care of her children and her
husband above devotion to herself…"
- “47.1% feel that there is no need for intervention of social or law
enforcement agencies in instances of husbands attacking wives, because that is
a family problem..."
- “73.9% feel that a woman must think of how to become a mother and wife
rather than engage in her economic and social freedom..."
- "86% of Palestinians feel that the [Islamic] traditions and customs retard
advancement of women..."
- “68.5% of Palestinians feel that the [Palestinian] Authority should
legislate firm punitive legislation for violence against
women...."
[Al-Ayyam women’s supplement ‘The Woman’s Voice’,
October 3, 2002]
