Nisaa FM: - Palestinian feminist vlogger Layla Hzaineh is fighting on behalf of Arab women, calling out regressive views and smashing the patriarchy ... one viral video at a time. With her videos she tackles pressing issues facing women in the region, challenges societal norms and patriarchal concepts that are often under-addressed or tabooed, such as sexism, harassment, and domestic violence.

When Layla decided to call out a sexist Youtuber

Layla Hzaineh kick-started her vlogging project when she came across a video by Jordanian Youtuber Yousef Al-Khateeb, who blatantly suggested that women bring sexual harassment onto themselves through the clothes they wear. "I was furious because I got sick of hearing the same biased and backward views over and over again and watching them receive so much attention and praise," Hzaineh says.

So, she posted a video in response, knowing that it might shock most Arab men. According to Hzaineh, the widely-practiced and commonly-accepted notion of male dominance is one of the most pressing issues Arab women face today. She says, "Men grow up believing they have the authority to control their sisters, mothers, and wives’ lives just because they are men."

According to Hzaineh the patriarchy runs deep within our societies, to the extent that some Arab women are unaware of their rights and in denial of the oppression they are subjected to, and therefore end up opposing women empowerment movements. "We teach women to shut up from an early stage until they believe they don't have the right to speak. These women were taught that they were born to serve men and be good housewives, nothing more."

This is only the beginning for Layla

Layla Hzaineh is pursuing a degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the prestigious Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. The 20-year old is born and raised in Amman to a Palestinian family, and attended an UNRWA school, as the lack of a Jordanian citizenship denied her entry to public schools in Jordan. She then got enrolled at the King's Academy with financial aid.

"I grew up knowing that if I wanted anything I had to work hard for it. My mother, the strongest woman I’ve ever known, has always been determined for me and my siblings to be strong, respected, and well-educated. At King’s Academy, my aspirations kept growing bigger and bigger by the day, and with the help of my mother, my university counselor, and adviser, I got into one of the most prestigious colleges in the U.S., Swarthmore College."

Hzaineh is not expecting radical changes, but she wants to encourage other girls to stand up, and fight for their rights, or at least know their rights. It is her aim to take her activism beyond social media by hosting live panels that encourage women to share their stories and empower them to seek justice. Professionally, she plans to pursue a degree in International Law and build a career in the field of human rights in the Middle East.

Thus, she is determined to return to the region after graduating and dedicating her life to the two causes she is most passionate about: women's rights and the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

"Hopefully one day I’ll be able to fight for specific cases of human rights abuse, regarding women’s issues in the Middle East and Palestinian families living under the occupation," Hzaineh says.

Source: www.stepfeed.com