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Advisor: Liron Elbaz Bloch
Approximately 70% of women who die from breast cancer are Ultra-Orthodox. This statistic reflects the gap between ultra-Orthodox and general society, a gap that requires change. Creating change in a closed society demands a profound change in this community.
Throughout my project, I studied women of this community, including their daily schedule and the obstacles preventing them from getting tested without going against their needs.
Understanding these obstacles enabled me to plan how to proceed, who to proceed with, and in what manner.
During the project, I identified the meeting places that routinely bring women together during their lives: the mikve (ritual bath), wig shops, and underwear stores.
These are the places in which I chose to enlist women, places where I could provide information about the disease and testing options in a way that is adapted to community needs (both in the language and graphics).
My project entails incorporating direct language and the internal discourse common among the ultra-Orthodox community. I believe that real change in closed communities requires this balance between the two attitudes and finding a way to communicate that is considerate and approachable, without taking a harsh stance.
Breast cancer is an unspoken disease among the ultra-Orthodox sector. At best, it is termed the "woman's disease" and often it is left completely unmentioned. This has profound social and life-threatening implications on women's health in the community
Gilia, One of Nine Organization