Equality in Theory and in Practice Life for Female Pioneers in Zionism
... ” Zionist pioneers recognized the logic in these words, realizing that in order to realize their aims they needed to enlist all individuals in one collective pursuit. ... ” Central to these goals was the principle of equality of the sexes. ... These idealistic ideas created a theme for women in the Zionist movement: a struggle between quixotic equality and reality. ... This deeply-enrooted stereotype of the female sphere exerted a stronger influence over attitudes in the community than did economic considerations (Bernstein). ... As a result, the ideology of equality was discarded. ... Despite the many capable and talented female pioneers of Zionism, they were often passed over for less-capable male figures. ... This conservative attitude toward the acceptable roles of women is illustrated acutely by the life and death of Joseph Bussell who, unlike the rest of the Labor Movement leaders, was a sincere advocator of gender equality. ... But for the women of Zionism, his drowning in Lake Kinneret in 1919 signaled a massive setback. ... It wasn’t just men that kept women from advancing to equality, however. ... The ones that did “tended to keep a low profile and were hardly felt in the discussions ” (Kafaki) Author Michael Berkowitz agrees: “Although Zionism proclaimed its openness toward women, Zionist women had a difficult time making their voices heard once they were within the movement” (Berkowitz). ... As a result, the traditional stereotype of female intelligence became a direct deterrent in the strivings toward equality that was pursued by the Zionist movement. ... Kafaki reflects these ulterior motives in his description of Meir Ya’ari, the leader of HaShomer Hatza’ir: “Meir consistently stressed men’s superiority over women, a concept based on Freudian theories and Wandervogel practice.