Conflict and Coverage: Unpacking Media Narratives of Palestinian Women in the Intifadas

Abstract

This thesis draws upon a critical literacy framework and thematic analysis to examine depictions of Palestinian women in print news media narratives from the First and Second Intifadas. Through relevance sampling and the critical literacy framework, this thesis aims to evaluate media portrayals in print news articles to identify patterns of bias, stereotypes, and themes, including gender, violence, nationalism, statehood and liberation, religion, destruction, and family, with a focus on identifying sexism and Orientalism. The research seeks to determine how these depictions may influence public perception and aid in an understanding of violence against women in conflict zones such as the occupied Palestinian territories. The study highlights the importance of diverse media narratives in shaping awareness of Palestinian women’s experiences of the Intifadas. This research does not have human participants.