More and more Gaza women are becoming waitresses, breaking into line of work dominated by men.

"I try not to focus on the stares and comments made by stupid people," said Ranad Al-Ez, who has a degree in hotel management and has previously worked as a waitress at women-only events. "I am certain that I chose the right profession. It's not easy, but I hope that with time people will get used to it."

"Some morons who are surprised to see me serving them food and drinks mock me," according to Asmahan Nasser, a resident of the Shati refugee camp. "Once, a woman refused to take the drink I served her. She stormed out of the restaurant in protest against my employment."


Since Hamas assumed control of Gaza in June 2007, the Islamic organization has legislated bills that curb women's status and rights. Among other things, women are barred from riding bicycles or from getting their hair cut in a barbershop.

Some legal initiatives attempted by Hamas in this field have failed - for instance, it was unable to pass a bill barring women from smoking hookahs in public venues.



Published: 05.02.12

Restaurants located along Gaza's beaches have become the site of a new trend in recent months – women getting jobs in table service, a field of work long dominated by men.


Gaza women first began waiting tables when Hamas came into power, but the phenomenon has been gaining traction this year ahead of the busy summer season.



Ranad Al-Ez, who works at a restaurant called Al-Salam, said that her customers are still surprised to see a woman waiting on them, but she does not let that throw her off.


"I try not to focus on the stares and comments made by stupid people," said Al-Ez, who has a degree in hotel management and has previously worked as a waitress at women-only events. "I am certain that I chose the right profession. It's not easy, but I hope that with time people will get used to it."




'Morons mock me'



Asmahan Nasser, a resident of the Shati refugee camp, has gotten a job as a waitress at the luxurious beachside Aldeira hotel four months ago in order to help her family.



Nasser, who intends to get a degree in tourism studies at Gaza College, considers her work a long-term career path as well. She expressed hope that by the time she finishes her studies, people will treat women who wait tables better.



"Some morons who are surprised to see me serving them food and drinks mock me," she said. "Once, a woman refused to take the drink I served her. She stormed out of the restaurant in protest against my employment."




The belief that the new line of work is inappropriate for women and goes against tradition is a major contributor to the derisive response.



Many women on the Strip work in the public sector, particularly in the health and education sectors. But the majority of women cannot be found in the workplace - work opportunities in the Gaza Strip are limited, but the main obstacle for women remains familial resistance to the idea of a woman working out of the house.

This cultural inhibition applies particularly to married women. Since Hamas assumed control of Gaza in June 2007, the Islamic organization has legislated bills that curb women's status and rights. Among other things, women are barred from riding bicycles or from getting their hair cut in a barbershop.




Some legal initiatives attempted by Hamas in this field have failed - for instance, it was unable to pass a bill barring women from smoking hookahs in public venues.




http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4223762,00.html



http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/palestinian-waitress-puts-a-dent-in-gaza-s-strict-gender-barriers-1.427399