By Felan Parker
What is the difference between an Israeli woman who takes up arms for her country and a Palestinian woman who does the same? In the media, the Palestinian is vilified, according to Carleton Sociology professor Nahla Abdo’s research. Palestinian women fighters are depicted as uneducated terrorists, influenced heavily by an allegedly oppressive society and religion, whereas Israeli women fighters are depicted as more or less normal women who have chosen to be soliders.
Abdo is investigating public images of women fighters from Israel and Palestine and how these perceptions are formed in both the Western and international media. Working closely with Queen’s University film studies professor Dorit Naamaan, Abdo examines how and why this skewed perspective exists. She will compare Western and Middle-Eastern depictions as well as individual perceptions of women fighters.
Abdo plans to visit the Middle East to perform more in-depth research into how women are being represented in the area. She wishes to correct misinformed views and present a different perspective on Palestinian women who fight. Another project Abdo has just completed deals with poverty among women in post-colonial countries- she hopes that her research can help inform Canada’s foreign policies regarding these issues.