Sumud through Debate: Exploring Resilience and Empowerment Among Female Students in higher education
Publication Type
Original research
Authors

Abstract

This study examines how female debaters from An-Najah National University embody Sumud, a form of Palestinian resilience grounded in the preservation of identity, culture, and community under ongoing conditions of apartheid. Drawing on the conceptual framework of Sumud (Awayed-Bishara, 2023) and Critical Feminist Theory (Crenshaw et al., 1995), the study explores how these women navigate and resist linguistic and gender-based challenges while asserting leadership and cultural identity. Using semi-structured interviews, the research investigates participants’ lived experiences, with particular attention to cultural resilience, female leadership, and linguistic resistance. The findings highlight the role of debate as a pedagogical and transformative space that empowers women, strengthens resilience, and advances the practice of Sumud within Palestinian higher education.

Journal
Title
Manara Qatar Research Repository
Publisher
Qatar Debate Centre
Publisher Country
Qatar
Publication Type
Online only
Volume
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Year
2025
Pages
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