We must do more to end gender-based bullying and discrimination

In a reply to Deborah Stone’s recent article, YAEL GRUNSEIT discusses the steps Habonim Dror Australia has taken to promote gender equality

THANK YOU FOR your recent article, Bullying, exclusion ‘common’ for women and non-binary people in Jewish organisations, which sheds light on the challenges that women and non-binary people often face in Jewish organisations. Of course, Habonim Dror believes that gender-based discrimination should cease to exist, but we understand that our movement, like most Jewish community organisations, must do more to make this a reality. 

Habonim Dror aspires to be a pioneering space for social change which includes promoting and enacting equality for all genders and sexualities. This is inspired by our Jewish and Socialist-Zionist values of shivyon erech ha’adam (the equal value of all human life) and dugmah ishit (leading by example), amongst other things.

We have made significant progress with regard to gender equality. These include having more than half of our leadership positions filled by women, the daily use of gender-neutral language in the movement, the creation of safe spaces for female and queer members, as well as many child-safety and mental health policies which account for issues related to gender and sexuality.

Our progressive Zionist education highlights stories of inspiring female movement members like Betty Doari, who in 1946 was one of the first Habonim Dror Australian olot to a kibbutz in Israel. We are trying to combat the pervasive sexism which seems inherent to leadership in our community, but we know we are not perfect. 

You mentioned the disheartening reality that (male) madrichim are often thought of as cooler, and I’ll add perhaps more capable than (female) madrichimot. This long-standing cultural attitude is something we are trying to tackle as a movement by ensuring that women and non-binary madrichimot occupy a range of roles in their leadership responsibilities.

We have also seen many male madrichim take on this issue as their own by being conscious of the space they take up in certain situations. Whilst women face hardships within the movement, we want to mention that queer madrichimot face different and less visible challenges.