Why do you only focus on Palestine, Lebanon, and Egypt? What about the rest of the Middle East?

AFWG focuses on Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt work because of the large amount of ethnographic and historical studies available on these countries. Each of these countries has a long history of institution-building around family studies and women’s studies.  Additionally, each of these countries represents different historical developments and regional dynamics.  For instance, Palestine is a state in formation, having endured a half century of dislocation, occupation, war, violence, and national liberation movement. Lebanon, while rebuilding its state and society, continues to be unstable after seventeen years of civil war. The Egyptian state and society is slowly transforming under pressure of structural adjustment and socio/political challenges. Comparisons of these data-rich countries and their diasporas provides a critical basis for future research on families and youth in other Arab countries.