The impact of Arab-Israeli culture on the characteristics of the therapeutic encounter between women social workers and fathers in Arab parent–child centers

Summary: The aim of the study was to present the impact of the Arab-Israeli culture on the therapeutic encounter between women social workers with fathers in Arab parent–child centers in Israel. The research was qualitative, and was based on in-depth interviews with 15 Arab women social workers employed in nine parent–child centers, where they treat Arab fathers. Findings: The social workers’ perceptions about the fathers’ perceptions of the therapeutic encounter has an impact on the professional encounter. In some cases, these perceptions were a hindrance to the treatment and necessitated work to help the father overcome these perceptions and to reduce his potential resistance to the treatment. In other cases, the social workers’ perceptions about the fathers’ perceptions advanced the treatment. A supportive attitude toward the treatment meant a better starting point, which was reflected throughout the therapeutic process, when the father believed in the treatment and accepted the idea of asking for help. Application: The study findings show the importance of the social workers’ awareness of the fathers’ cultural stance, as well as of the similarities and differences between their own cultural perceptions and that of the fathers.     

The use of political motherhood in Egypt’s Arab Spring uprising and aftermath

ABSTRACT

Political motherhood, which uses traditional motherhood to mobilize and sustain women’s political participation, is understudied in political science. Women played a significant role in Egypt’s Arab Spring and its aftermath by “bargaining with patriarchy” and strategically using traditional motherhood to access the political sphere. In this article, we develop a theoretical argument based on the work of Gentry, Carreon and Moghadam and Amar. We illustrate it with examples drawn from news articles on women’s political activism and social media posts by Egyptian activists. Our argument explores how women’s agency and the larger political context in which women operate reveals how political motherhood takes the particular shape that it does. In the context of Egypt, we examine how the state’s choice to highlight women as “hypervisible” citizens, worthy of protection, backfired. Through a bottom-up political motherhood, women used their respectability as mothers in need of state protection against the state, thereby legitimizing anti-Mubarak and anti-Muslim Brotherhood demonstrations and challenging these governments.     

Division of Labor and Decision-Making in Arab Families in Israel: Processes of Change and Preservation

The study examines the changes that Arab families in Israel have undergone over three generations. It focuses on change and preservation in the division of labor between spouses, in the attitudes toward it, and оn how decisions are made in the family. It also examines the factors contributing to the preservation of traditional characteristics and those contributing to change. The study included 378 Moslem and Christian Arab women from three generations (grandmothers, mothers, and daughters). The findings indicate significant changes: the younger the generation is, the less traditional are the attitudes it holds and the more egalitarian the life of the couple is. The factors found to promote change were the woman’s education, work outside the home, intensive contacts with the Jewish population, and living near Jewish communities. The factor that was found to contribute most to the preservation of traditional patterns is consensual solidarity with the mother.     

The racialization of Arab panethnic identity: exploring students’ ingroup and outgroup social positionings

Islamophobia has become increasingly evident in the sociocultural landscape of the United States. The current political climate which centers on the influx of refugees and concerns of extremists has in effect othered individuals of Arab ancestry as a bounded group. Arab students represent a heterogeneous group of individuals, encompassing a variety of viewpoints that challenge the fixed and static notion of Arab identity. This study utilizes the concept of racialization to explore the ways that a group of Arab students within a predominantly white institution in the southern region were othered through the influence of a negative Arab image. Through case study methodology including interview and observational data, participants explained the multiple ways they were distanced and connected to the dominant group as well as other Arab students. Related to the ways participants navigated dominant norms to establish a sense of belonging, findings reveal that institutional leaders and practitioners need to engage in greater critical reflection to maximize support for marginalized groups.     

埃及新自由主义改革与政治剧变的关系探析

2011年埃及发生政治剧变,导致剧变的主要原因是政治威权与经济发展水平不相适应。新自由主义改革的实施导致埃及社会结构重组,由此产生了一系列改革的负面社会效应,包括民族工业破坏殆尽、经济寡头化、中产阶级破产、贫困率上升、裙带资本主义蔓延等,使得威权主义政权失去合法性,伊斯兰主义运动等反对派获得社会支持和社会动员能力。近年来,埃及政局虽逐渐恢复稳定,但高程度的政治威权与低水平的经济发展之间的矛盾却更加突出,进而使埃及仍存在陷入动荡的隐患。     

论《一千零一夜》的权力观

权力观是以权力为中心的价值观,是判断民众与执政者关系的价值观。《一千零一夜》的一个重要主题就是宣扬“劝君施仁”的权力观,通过故事的铺展,描述了以国王们为代表的封建社会政治结构的基本权力特征,以及民众对统治者“权力”行使的思辨和诉求。其中要求实现“公正”的基本思想贯穿始终。     

论中亚的伊斯兰化

公元11至13世纪上半叶是中亚伊斯兰化时期。7～8世纪,伊斯兰教传入中亚西部呼罗珊和中亚腹地河中地区;10～11世纪,在喀喇汗和伽色尼两个王朝的推动下伊斯兰教向东、向南传播,今中国新疆西部、阿富汗中部和印度河流域的居民陆续皈依了伊斯兰教;11～13世纪,伊斯兰教深入到中亚社会的各个方面,成为中亚居民的一种生活方式。本文从物质文化、政治制度和意识形态三个层面剖析了伊斯兰教对中亚社会的影响。     

“一·二五革命”后埃及穆斯林兄弟会发展趋势

"一·二五革命"后,埃及穆兄会的发展呈现出两条主线:一是穆斯林兄弟会得以合法建党,体现了其强势发展的一面;二是穆斯林兄弟会青年一代的自由派从其母体中分离。本文通过考察穆斯林兄弟会在此次埃及革命后的新动向,研究其政治发展的各种因素和模式,并分析其发展趋势。     

经贸因素与中国在阿拉伯世界的国家形象

在全球化时代,虽然政府在国家形象塑造上发挥着主导作用,但国家间日益紧密的经贸交流逐渐成为影响国家形象的重要因素。近年来,中阿经贸合作水平不断提升,阿拉伯国家已成为中国重要的贸易伙伴和"走出去"战略的重要舞台。由于互补性强而使中阿经贸交流实现了互利双赢,但随着中国商品和企业越来越多地进入阿拉伯国家,一些问题也随之出现,如产品质量问题、部分企业未诚信守法经营、部分中国员工不能融入当地生活等问题,这些经贸因素已逐渐成为在阿拉伯国家影响中国形象的重要变量,应当予以高度重视。     

阿拉伯民族身份认同的文本学分析

文本被视为一种记忆。本文以《一千零一夜》为例,从文本学分析的角度,探索《夜》反映的阿拉伯伊斯兰帝国鼎盛时期——阿拔斯王朝前期的社会风貌、文化背景和价值观念。通过故事的表征分析,我们看到,《夜》的民族身份认同本质上是以阿拉伯—伊斯兰文化为同一性,并以伊斯兰教为核心思想,"阿拉伯人"不再仅仅限于种族和血统含义,而是包含了宗教和文化概念,甚至以"穆斯林"的宗教身份涵盖"阿拉伯人"的民族身份。