JORDANIAN WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE REVIVAL AND PROTECTION OF HERITAGE INDUSTRY

Handicrafts are a vital component of the cultural, civilizational, and social legacy passed down over the ages. They represent innovation derived from societal demands. In addition to being an important economic resource by creating jobs and reducing unemployment, traditional crafts are essential for maintaining cultural identity. Since rural people are crucial to fostering peace, achieving economic growth, and ensuring agricultural self-sufficiency, countries like Jordan work to integrate them into various artisan fields. This study is among the few that focus on the role and contribution of Jordanians to heritage revitalization and the importance of documenting heritage crafts in Jordan. Remarkably, many Jordanian heritage crafts have begun to disappear due to the shift toward modernity and urbanization, making it necessary to document heritage industries to preserve them from extinction. This study aims to identify the extent of Jordanians ‘contribution to heritage industries that still exist in some Jordanian villages, as well as their role in meeting family needs in partnership with the family members to achieve a decent standard of living. The study employed in-depth interviews with 59 persons from 12 villages in Jordan for data collection. These Jordanian villages continue to preserve their heritage, and people still actively engaged in producing traditional handicrafts. The study revealed that Jordanians possess high skills in producing heritage crafts such as mud houses and clay ovens. It also highlighted how Jordanians utilize available raw materials from their surroundings and recycle certain materials, which have now become integral components of traditional heritage and comprise a significant portion of it. The significance of the study lies in highlighting the role of Jordanians in preserving the nation's material heritage. It also aims to document the traditional crafts produced by Jordanians, expanding our understanding of the elements and techniques involved in creating various crafts. This study underscores the importance of Jordanians, alongside men, in providing for their families over the past few decades.