Conservative Gaza stifles female talent
Many talented female singers gave up on their dream of professional singing because of the conservative society in Gaza and Hamas’ clampdown on female performers, whom they deem indecent.
BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip — Khouloud Alian wished she had been gifted with a talent such as drawing or writing — a talent that did not require her to be in direct contact with the public, such as singing.
As a singer, Alian feels that society has been unfair to her, in addition to the clampdown by the previous Hamas government on female singers and performers, which has prevented many from fulfilling their dreams.
Alian is a 24-year-old singer living in the Beit Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip, which is seen as the most conservative region in Gaza.
Alian told Al-Monitor that she could not take any singing or vocal lessons or become a professional singer, given the conservative traditions of Gaza society.
