Navigating Contentious Identities: Minority Women in the Israeli Parliament - Dr. Noa Balf, Indiana University

This talk explores the conflictual and sometime contradictory ways ethnonationalism,
populism, and democratic erosion affect diversifying legislatures, through the case of the Israeli
Knesset. Although diversity and inclusion are often viewed as symbols of democratization
research increasingly challenges this. In fact, diversity and inclusion can occur in tandem with
democratic erosion – how so? How do minorities navigate hostile environments? To answer
this question I analyze how women politicians with intersecting identities strategically use their
gendered and racialized identities. I conduct a qualitative study of four different women
politicians in the Israeli legislature - Miri Regev of Jewish Mizrahi [Moroccan] descent, Pnina
Tamano-Shata of Jewish Ethiopian descent, Merav Michaeli of Jewish Ashkenazi [European]
descent, and Aida Touma-Sliman a Palestinian-Israeli. I find that women will highlight the
aspects of their identities they believe will benefit them the most, resulting in their promotion
of ethnonational divisions and reducing opportunities for solidarity among minority
populations.

Judaic Studies Department | Website | View More Events

Lior Libman

Contact the organizers