The Challenges of Young Bedouin Men Living in a Changing Society

Israel's Bedouin population is undergoing a change from a traditional, collectivist society to one that is modern and individualistic. Settlement in urban localities has harmed the tribal framework of the society and weakened its traditional structure. Young Bedouin men are an inseparable part of the social fabric and the process of change and its ramifications. They are caught between their personal wishes and those of the tribe, between individualistic aims and commitment to the collective. This qualitative study using a phenomenological paradigm was conducted among 20 educated young Bedouin men. The findings reveal that they encounter many challenges arising from the tribal, patriarchal social structure of Bedouin society and from their status as members of an ethnic-religious minority in a country with a different ethnic-religious majority. The article describes these challenges and the importance of raising the awareness of social workers who work with young Bedouin men.