The Misrepresentations of Female Suicide Bombers Examining Gendered Biases in the Study of Female Palestinian Suicide Bombers
The Misrepresentations of Female Suicide Bombers
Examining Gendered Biases in the Study of Female Palestinian Suicide Bombers
Joya Mukherjee
260367916
HIST 448
Professor Laila Parsons
Friday December 7, 2012
McGill University
The Misrepresentations of Female Suicide Bombers
Examining Gendered Biases in the Study of Female Palestinian Suicide Bombers
Joya Mukherjee
260367916
HIST 448
Professor Laila Parsons
Friday December 7, 2012
McGill University
“[Be] Ready for the increasing threat of women terrorists, we must recognize women as rational actors as opposed to emotional reactors of violence.”— Lisa Kruger
The use of females as suicide bombers is a relatively recent occurrence, and they are increasingly becoming the weapon of choice. Female suicide bombers seem to have caused uproar among the international community, as heads of state and scholars appear shocked to learn that they would now need to broaden the scope of potential suicide bombers. However, the reaction of the international community is surprising. If history tells us that women have always taken part in militancy, then why would the use of female suicide bombers be unexpected? Could it possibly be the method of violence that the women are using? Specifically, could it be the two elements involved in the violent act of suicide bombing: killing one’s self in addition to others, (which distinguishes it from other types of violence that focuses only on killing others). However, taken from this angle, the question then centres on why there is not as much attention and gendered psychological discourse that concentrates around male suicide bombers as there is on female suicide bombers. This question indicates that there is likely something about females using the method of suicide bombing that promotes a gendered psychological discourse on the issue. The paper will focus on the way in which scholars treat Palestinian female suicide bombers as gendered subjects. If we
Examining Gendered Biases in the Study of Female Palestinian Suicide Bombers
Joya Mukherjee
260367916
HIST 448
Professor Laila Parsons
Friday December 7, 2012
McGill University
The Misrepresentations of Female Suicide Bombers
Examining Gendered Biases in the Study of Female Palestinian Suicide Bombers
Joya Mukherjee
260367916
HIST 448
Professor Laila Parsons
Friday December 7, 2012
McGill University
“[Be] Ready for the increasing threat of women terrorists, we must recognize women as rational actors as opposed to emotional reactors of violence.”— Lisa Kruger
The use of females as suicide bombers is a relatively recent occurrence, and they are increasingly becoming the weapon of choice. Female suicide bombers seem to have caused uproar among the international community, as heads of state and scholars appear shocked to learn that they would now need to broaden the scope of potential suicide bombers. However, the reaction of the international community is surprising. If history tells us that women have always taken part in militancy, then why would the use of female suicide bombers be unexpected? Could it possibly be the method of violence that the women are using? Specifically, could it be the two elements involved in the violent act of suicide bombing: killing one’s self in addition to others, (which distinguishes it from other types of violence that focuses only on killing others). However, taken from this angle, the question then centres on why there is not as much attention and gendered psychological discourse that concentrates around male suicide bombers as there is on female suicide bombers. This question indicates that there is likely something about females using the method of suicide bombing that promotes a gendered psychological discourse on the issue. The paper will focus on the way in which scholars treat Palestinian female suicide bombers as gendered subjects. If we
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