The media capabilities of Druze women in Israel

ABSTRACT

This study examines for the first time the participation and representation of Druze women in the mainstream Israeli media, and how this potentially affects their media capabilities. Though characterized by a double marginalization of gender and ethno-racial identity, the media portrayals of this unique population have not been previously examined. To answer this paucity, this study employs a qualitative thematic analysis of all of the relevant media content published in the past decade in two mainstream Israeli media venues. Findings suggest that contrary to other ethno-racial minorities, the Israeli media mostly enables Druze women’s media capabilities. This study contributes to a better understanding of the media’s role in society, especially regarding the media capabilities of marginalized populations, and for the first time, reveals the media resource enabled to Druze women in Israel.

KEYWORDS:

• Druze
• women
• media representations
• media participation
• capabilities

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study has not received any funding.

Notes on contributors

Baruch Shomron

Dr. Baruch Shomron is a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Communication at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. His research focuses on communication rights, media capabilities, media representations, digital divide, and health communication, especially regarding marginalized populations.