Theorizing Gender in Druze

Abstract

Druze in Lebanon are known to be "private." Their traditions and social customs are not so particular compared to other communities in Lebanon but instead customized to fit their religious and social identity. Their religious identity, however, is more private than public. This privacy aspect is not limited to "outsiders" or those who do not legally belong to the Druze sect. But also, to those who are legally Druze but do not belong to the religious class, this community within a community holds many private and unique social identities. Political identities in the Druze community are highly influenced by power and male elite dominance. As a result, gender roles in the Druze community are maintained through many social norms and traditions, mainly through marriage. Gender identities, on the other hand, are highly influenced by power dynamics in the family and community. This social order is instilled by discriminatory laws that favor males over females. This paper highlights factors that influence these roles and identities, specifically in marriage and religious discriminatory laws like divorce. Based on a feminist standpoint and intersectionality theory, this research adopts a social psychological approach to highlight the significance of how the Druze social and political identity shape the Druze marriage institution.