Trapping yet trapped: the ‘I-society’ discourse

Author: Ola Kattoura1
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  • 1 University of Otago, , New Zealand
Article Category:
Research Article
Copyright:
© Centre for Gender and Violence Research University of Bristol 2022
Online Publication Date:
01 Feb 2022
Pages:
133–148
Publisher:
Policy Press
Volume/Issue:
Volume 6: Issue 1
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1332/239868021X16363614118227
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Despite the abundant literature concerning domestic violence against women, very little is known about battered Arab women in Israel. Using intersectionality as the overarching conceptual lens, this study drew from in depth-interviews with 36 battered Arab women and adopted a narrative approach to reveal how battered Arab women in Israel are trapped in abusive relationships within a conflicted society. Drawing from discourse analysis, the findings revealed that participants used the same words to describe themselves and to describe Arab society. This use of metaphorical language revealed the additional meaning of societal patriarchy. It illustrated Arab society’s way of dealing with its entrapment through projecting its difficulties onto Arab women who served as the society’s scapegoats, causing many to suffer not only from multiplied oppressions, but also to face life threatening situations.

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Ola Kattoura1
  • 1 University of Otago, , New Zealand

olakattoura@gmail.com

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