Frequently asked questions

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.

AFWG is solely responsible for the content of this site and for its research findings.  However, AFWG is co-hosted at The American University in Cairo (Egypt) and the University of California at Davis (USA).  Additionally, an institutional network has contributed to the work of AFWG, including: The American University in Cairo (Social Research Center and Institute for Gender and Women’s Studies), The Population Council, Cairo, The Lebanese American University, Beirut, (Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World), Birzeit University, West Bank (Institute of Women’s Studies), The University of California, Davis, (Anthropology, Women and Gender Studies, and Middle East/South Asia Studies).

No.  AFWG is a scholarly research group.  Our goal is to provide access to our research findings and to disseminate as much information as possible on our areas of research interest.