“Masculinity is responsibility toward your family”: Masculinity in the shadow of Bedouin patriarchy in Israel

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine how the patriarchal structure affects Bedouin men's role in the family and how this role affects their masculinity.

Background

How the patriarchal structure affects Bedouin women and constrains them has been studied extensively, but there is a dearth of research on how it affects young Bedouin men—especially those who are the sons of men with higher education—who have been influenced by modernization and exposure to Israeli society.

Method

This is a qualitative study in the phenomenological tradition, using a semistructured in-depth interview, of 20 young Bedouin men.

Results

Four themes were identified. “Power that I did not choose”: The patriarchal structure gives young men power and authority that they do not choose and cannot oppose. “The mirror of the older men is important”: Fulfilling the traditional Bedouin man's role is crucial for obtaining their elders' approval of their masculinity. “Responsibility”: The men have responsibility. “Masculine juggling”: The young men must negotiate their aspirations that conflict with society's expectations.

Conclusion

The change that traditional Bedouin society is undergoing creates many challenges for young Bedouin men. These include having to be the authority figure in a patriarchal structure and the protector of the female family members, roles that often conflict with the men's personal desire for equality between the sexes and among family members.

Implications

The findings may be useful in planning support programs for educated young Bedouin men and may contribute to the understanding of the challenges facing men in Bedouin families.