A degree does not protect from violence: "Ruach Nashit" data raises a new question in the debate on segregation in academia

Against the backdrop of the approval of the bill for gender segregation in advanced degrees, data from the "Ruach Nashit" association shows that academic women are not immune to violence and economic dependency. In central Israel, 46% of those completing a rehabilitation program in 2025 held an academic degree. The association's CEO argues that the question is not just about studying itself, but the conditions and economic independence it enables.

Against the backdrop of the approval of the bill that would allow separate study tracks for men and women even in advanced degrees, data from the "Ruach Nashit" association, which helps victims of violence achieve economic independence, shows that even academic women can be victims of violence and economic dependency. In the first half of 2026, about 30% of women who completed a program to improve financial resilience held a bachelor's or master's degree, and in central Israel, the rate of women with academic education or currently studying exceeded 40%. The association's data from 2025 shows that in central Israel, about 46% of graduates held an academic degree, including those with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree or higher. The association's CEO, Ofira Ben Shlomo, notes that the debate on gender segregation in academia is sometimes presented as a conflict between accessibility and equality, but the data adds another layer: a woman's mere entry into the higher education system is not the end of the road. According to her, even women who have already acquired education, a profession, and status may find themselves in an abusive relationship and under economic control, so the question is under what conditions they study and to what extent education translates into real independence.