PALESTINIAN SOCIETY - Fafo

Table 9. 7 Religiosity index by economic strata There are also gender differ­
Lowerthird
Middle third
Upper third
Secular Observant Activist
29 35 36
ences. Women tend to be more
secular than men (29% for wom­
35 37 46
en versus 20% for men) and men
more religiously activist than
36 29 34
women (24% versus 12%).
In addition, age seems to affect the degree of religiosity and the
impact of age is somewhat different for men and women.
The trend among the youngest age groups of men is very similar
to the trend observed in relation to their attitudes to women. Among
those aged 15 to 19, the group most affected by the street activism of
the intifada, the trend toward secularisation has suddenly reversedand
there is a very sharp jump in the portion who are observant Muslims
or militants in relation to the preceding age group. Also notable is the
concentration ofIslamicists among those aged 50 to 59, the age group
who experienced the 1948 war and the subsequent massive disloca­
tion of Palestinians at a young, impressionable age.
Among women there is a slight decrease in the number of
observant Muslims and a corresponding increase in the degree of
secularisation among those under 50 years of age. However, the
proportion of women who profess sentiments linked to political Islam
seems fairly steady over the generations. The only exception is, again,
women currently in the age group of 50 to 59.
Figure 9.8 Religious index by age, jor men
Il Secular 12] Observant D Activist
Total _ ... . "" .... i .... . _' -=�����--= ... ' ..... 1'--__ ----
60 or more .�i'�r::y�'" ;:::��::::
50.59 _�i=