Palestinian women sew to survive

Struggling to make ends meet, the women of Gaza sew painstakingly detailed embroidery work for small profits.
A Palestinian woman is watched by a young girl as she embroiders in a women programme center in Gaza City January 5, 2003, where women are taught hairdressing, stitching and embroidery and IT skills. [Palestinian women have been exposed to increased domestic violence since the beginning of the intifada, or Palestinian uprising, 29 months ago, according to the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), which was commissioned by a Palestinian women's organization to conduct a poll. The poll showed that 86
A Palestinian woman is watched by a young girl as she embroiders in a women's center, where courses are offered in embroidery, hairdressing and IT skills in Gaza City, Jan. 5, 2003. -
asmaaalghoul.jpg
Asmaa al-Ghoul
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Um Yasmine Abu Oueily, 52, has embroidered hundreds of pieces using the “rural embroidery” method. This method distinguishes Palestinian embroidery, whose patterns and forms usually depict a Canaanite star, a significant design in Palestinian history.

However, Um Yasmine does not own a single piece of embroidery. She does not own an embroidered dress, shawl or bag, and has never even thought about it. She is more concerned about satisfying the daily needs of her unemployed husband and unemployed daughter.

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