Breaking Barriers: A Bedouin Pioneer Opening Doors Through Education

Caroline Haïat
3 days ago
6 min read

Determination — that is the word that best defines Professor Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder. A model of success for the Bedouin society and a source of immense pride for the entire nation. Originally from Beersheva in the Negev, Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder became the first Bedouin woman to earn a PhD in 2006 from Ben-Gurion University. At the time, she didn’t know it yet, but she was becoming a true pioneer — a prominent figure initiating meaningful change and a symbol of achievement for Bedouin women. This exceptional woman, a mother of three sons, brilliantly balanced family life with an impeccable academic career. Today, she stands as a tireless advocate for the Bedouin cause and the empowerment of the youth in her community, encouraging talent to proudly represent their origins on the Israeli sphere. Portrait of an extraordinary personality who tirelessly fights for equal rights and justice in academic and professional spheres.

After completing her PhD — which focused on Bedouin women who pursued university studies and how they reconcile their academic aspirations with family expectations — Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder conducted postdoctoral research in gender studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at the University of Oxford. In 2021, her efforts were recognized when she was appointed Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

An Arab feminist activist, Sarab is also the author of three books and numerous articles addressing the role of Bedouin women in education and employment. She teaches with notable professionalism on topics such as Arab feminism, diversity, and racism.

The daughter of Israel’s first Bedouin doctor, Sarab attended a high school in Beersheva, where she was the only Bedouin student among 400 Jewish classmates. It was there that she quickly realized education would be her key to serving the cause that drives her: playing a crucial role in shaping the future of Bedouins in Israel, so that one day, they can access excellence as she did.

“My biggest challenge was managing my household while pursuing my PhD. At night, I studied, read, wrote my dissertation, and published articles. I had many sleepless nights. I had to juggle the needs of my children with my own; it wasn’t easy. I even had to hire domestic help, because I taught during the day — but it was for a good cause. I wouldn’t have given up for anything in the world,” Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder told Itonnews.

The Bedouin Community Faces Major Challenges

The Bedouins are one of the poorest communities in the country, with over 60% of families living below the poverty line. About 50% of Negev Bedouins reside in unrecognized villages, where homes are subject to demolition and basic infrastructure like drinking water or electricity is lacking. In most of these villages, schooling ends at the 5th grade — with no middle or high schools, nor public transportation — making education difficult for those who cannot afford to travel to nearby towns.

Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder has launched multiple initiatives to enhance diversity at Ben-Gurion University and promote the inclusion of students and researchers from minority backgrounds. She has worked to improve academic conditions and offer support to Arab students, who often face barriers due to language, cultural differences, and institutional discrimination.

“More than 60% of Bedouin students at the University are women — a clear sign of progress for Bedouin women’s status. However, most are still confined to education-related fields. About 60% of them study in specialized schools rather than at the University, which shows there are still significant gaps in psychometric scores required for university admission. The Bedouin average is 419 compared to the national average of 570. This gap prevents many Bedouins from entering fields like high-tech, medicine, or engineering. As a result, some choose to study medicine abroad,” says Professor Abu-Rabia-Queder.

“We’ve been working at the University to close these gaps, which are primarily linked to Hebrew proficiency. For Bedouins, Hebrew is a second language, yet universities demand native-level fluency. They also face challenges adapting from their traditional community environment to the academic world. In the past two years, we’ve had cases where female students were forced to stop studying due to family objections. Bedouin professors at the University often try to convince the parents to let them continue.”

Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders

To address these challenges, Sarab and her team implemented several programs to help Bedouins integrate into university life.

With the program “Hebrew: Key to Success,” Jewish students — mostly girls — meet with Bedouin high schoolers and work with them to bridge their language gaps and help them achieve a strong level in Hebrew.

The “Gateway to University” program prepares students to join higher education. Thanks to these initiatives, the percentage of Bedouins admitted into science and high-tech fields has significantly increased over the past five years.

“We also provide scholarships for Bedouin women to help fund their master’s degrees. We created a leadership program to equip future female leaders. We even set up a center for Bedouin women on campus, where they can study and attend Zoom classes. Generally, during the first year, it’s hard for them to integrate — this gives them autonomy and a dedicated space,” explains Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder.

"Saving" Talent from the Weight of Tradition

While Sarab was fortunate to pursue her education unhindered, this is far from the norm for most Bedouin women, who remain subject to a deeply patriarchal society.

“I spoke with the first Bedouin woman from her village to earn a master’s degree in Earth Sciences. Her family discouraged her from this path, suggesting she become a teacher for a more stable life. Our committee managed to convince her father to let her study, and now she’s a researcher specializing in earthquakes and is preparing her PhD. Unfortunately, we don’t yet see enough results on the ground. When Bedouins graduate, they still struggle to find employment,” laments Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder.

A Forum to Break Taboos

Beyond the academic world, Professor Abu-Rabia-Queder is a committed feminist activist and founder of the Forum of Arab Women’s Organizations of the Negev. This forum aims to promote gender equality and provide a space for collaboration among Arab women in southern Israel.

Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder plays a vital role in combating gender stereotypes and violence against women.

“Polygamy, femicide, and violence against women are topics we address openly within the Forum. Before its creation, many women were afraid to speak out about these issues that are destroying our community from within. The State does very little to stop these scourges because it sees them as secondary. But we can’t wait for things to get worse. Polygamy, for instance, has psychological and economic consequences and creates a sick society. It’s up to us, Bedouin women, to change mentalities,” she says.

Fighting Pervasive Racism

The Council for Higher Education required all academic institutions to implement programs to increase minority representation. Over the past four years, universities have started addressing the issue, but racism remains widespread. “Some educators and administrators believe that Bedouins and Arabs are weak and lack ambition. There’s a lot of racism in academia that blocks the social advancement of the Bedouin community,” Sarab warns.

At university, Bedouin graduates make up only 8% of all students.“We need to reach 30% or even 50% to see a real change and have influence in society. As long as Bedouins don’t obtain qualifications, we’ll have no weight, and success stories like mine will remain isolated cases. We must recognize unrecognized villages to uphold rights and eliminate crime in Arab society.”

“After October 7th, the situation get worse. Arab students received complaints for posting Quranic verses on social media and were asked to condemn Hamas’ actions. They instantly became suspects. I believe the State missed an opportunity to strengthen ties with the Bedouin community. Bedouins were the first to rescue, sometimes at the cost of their lives, festivalgoers at Nova and residents of kibbutzim — without making distinctions. Yet the State, unfortunately, does make distinctions. The first missiles to hit Beersheva and the region killed Bedouins because there are no shelters in unrecognized villages. That’s a true crime,” says Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder, who believes the Bedouin population is being abandoned.

In addition to her work in Israel, Sarab Abu-Rabia-Queder is internationally recognized for her research and activism. She has participated in numerous global conferences on social justice, women’s rights, and minority issues.

She is currently working on a new project at the University called the “Lab for the Study of Shared Life”, which aims to foster dialogue between communities.