My History


From 2009 to 20011, I worked at Bedouin high schools in the Negev sponsored by two education institutions and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. In some of the schools, I worked with groups of girls, aged 14-18, on special projects.

They wrote articles on women’s issues in the Bedouin Sector such as gender inequality, women’s further suffering as tradition changed to modernity, polygamy, and the stigma of being “too” educated. We published the articles in a newsmagazine. They were able to read their articles in print, as well as provide copies to friends and family within their community. This gave them a sense of agency that they said they had never felt.


When I returned to the States, I pondered what could be done to allow the girls to network and create a community among themselves. Would a website or GIS map with mobile phone ability allow them to communicate with each other without having to disguise themselves on a more open platform such as Facebook? What if it were a secure website where they could share ideas and thoughts but also promote their communities and culture? This social map is the result of that pondering.

The Collective for Young Bedouin Women


This map and site was created so that young Bedouin women have a place they can call their own online. It evolved because of a conversation I had through Facebook with a former female student of mine from the Bedouin Sector. She had a "western-looking" avatar--with blonde hair and blue eyes--on her profile page, along with a fake name. She had friended me, calling me teacher, but I had no idea who she was. After I sent her a message to ask, she replied with her first name and told me that she is really not supposed to be on the site so she had to do it covertly.


I started thinking about what would happen if this former student of mine was caught by her father or brothers. Becuase I have seen the problems it causes with the family, I wondered if something could be created just for young Bedouin women. It would have to be secure so that only women could share information. Because many of the Bedouin villages or even the roads where you live are still not on many maps, my main focus was to bring you a map that shows where you live, the names of your villages, and the population estimates. This is a great way to understand your identity and where everything is around you in the Naqab.


You can click on the tabs in the upper right corner to see the villages together, separated by township, newly recognized, and unrecognized. There is also a place for media where you can see photos, videos and notes that other women have posted. Now, I want you to send me any media that you would like to have posted and I will put it up for you. Eventually, want you to be able to post and share your media with each other. You will also be able to add to the map someday soon!


I hope that you embrace the idea of having your own site. This will allow you to make friends with each other, network, and promote your culture and traditions in a safe way. You can support each other with ideas about education and help each other through difficult situations. Please let me know if you like it and what else you would like to include on it!