The difficulties that Palestinian women face as heads of families in Tulkarem Governorate

This study discusses the difficulties that Palestinian women face as heads of household in Tulkarem Governorate from their own perspective. It aims at uncovering the existence of economic, social, educational, psychological, and health difficulties that these women are facing in Tulkarem Governorate. It furthermore aims at measuring the degree of the difficulties they face. Moreover, the study tries to show the impact of the variables of age, marital status, nature of work, number of family members, place of residence, monthly income, and number of years as household heads upon the degree of difficulties they face. The research population is made up of all women who are heading a household in Tulkarem Governorate, around 2390 women. From this number a random sample of 250 women was chosen, which represents about 10% of the study population. The researcher employed a descriptive-analytical research method to gather data. In order to fulfil the aims of the study, the researcher prepared a questionnaire based on theoretical literature and relevant studies. This questionnaire was then evaluated by a committee of judges in order to ensure its validity. The stable factors for the categories of the questionnaire were extrapolated by using Cronbach Alpha. The total stable factor for the categories of the questionnaire was 95%. The answers were analysed by using SPSS through Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney tests. The study yielded the following results: Firstly: the existence of economic, social, educational, psychological, and health difficulties that Palestinian female heads of household in Tulkarem Governorate are facing; economic difficulties appeared to be the most evident and noteworthy as all answers in this area indicated a high or very high degree (64.34%). The social, educational, psychological, and health difficulties appeared to be natural, ordinary and not particularly noteworthy, as all answers in those areas ranged from 40.43% to 50.43% from the perspective of the study sample. Secondly: the overall degree to which Palestinian female heads of household face problems in all categories is medium, while the degree of economic difficulties is high, and the degree of social, educational, psychological, and health problems is medium. Thirdly: the existence of a statistically relevant difference between the average degree of problems the Palestinian female heads of household are facing in Tulkarem Governorate in all categories of difficulties, i.e. regarding the variables of monthly income of less than 1,000 Shekel over 1,000-3,000 Shekel and more than 3,000 Shekel. Also, in the category of economic difficulties with regard to the variable of marital status of wives of political prisoners over divorced or separated women and widows. Also, concerning the variable of the nature of employment of permanent employment over self-employed, intermittent income, and unemployed. In the category of social and educational problems, regarding the variable of number of family members of less than 3 over 3-6. Also, regarding the variable of place of residence of rural over urban areas. With regard to the variable of the nature of employment of permanent employment over self-employed, intermittent income, and unemployed; of self-employed over intermittent income, and unemployed; of intermittent income over unemployed. Regarding the variable of number of years as head of household of 2-5 years over more than 5 years. In the overall category of difficulties concerning the variable of the nature of employment of permanent employment over self-employed, intermittent income, and unemployed; of self-employed over intermittent income, and unemployed; of intermittent income over unemployed. Regarding the variable of number of years as head of household of 2-5 years over more than 5 years. Fourthly: non-existence of a statistically relevant difference between he average degree of difficulties that Palestinian female heads of household are facing in Tulkarem Governorate in all categories of difficulties regarding the variable of age and monthly income between 1,000-3,000 Shekel and more than 3,000 Shekel and in the category of economic difficulties regarding the variable of number of family members and place of residence and number of years as head of household and marital status among the divorced and separated women and widows, and in the category of social and educational difficulties regarding the variable of marital status, the number of family members between 3 and more than 6 and between 3-6 members and more than 6 members, as well as the place of residence between urban and rural areas or between rural areas and camps, and the number of years as head of household between less than two years over 2-5 and more than five years, and in the category of psychological and health difficulties regarding the variables of marital status, nature of employment, number of family members, place of residence, and number of years as head of household, and in the overall category of difficulties regarding the variables of marital status, number of family members, and place of residence. Based on the results of this study, the researcher recommends the following, details of which can be found in the fifth chapter: Greater attention should be paid to the class of women who are heading a household from an economic angle, working towards a decrease in the economic difficulties they are facing, working towards dealing with the social, educational, psychological and health difficulties they are facing, conducting similar studies in other governorates of Palestine, examining the effect of other variables on the degree of difficulties they are facing, such as the educational level, the kind of residence, the marital status as singles, wives of disabled people, wives of the infirm, and conducting research in Palestine to find ways and means to help women who are heading a household and facing difficulties in their lives.