BECOMING A MAN IN AL-WIHDAT: MASCULINE PERFORMANCES IN A PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP IN JORDAN. (27th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Achilli, Luigi
• Is Part Of: International journal of Middle East studies. Volume 47:Number 2(2015:May)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 280
• Publication Date: 2015-04-27
• Subjects: Middle East -- Periodicals; 915.603305
• DOI: 10.1017/S0020743815000045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7438

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This article explores the complex interplay between masculinity and nationalism among Palestinians living in a refugee camp in Jordan. Youth masculinity in the camp is widely perceived in Jordan as an expression of either immoral behavior or unthinking radicalism, and as a symbol of cultural and political difference and the failure of camp dwellers to embrace assimilation. However, camp dwellers' masculinities are not uniform. I argue that young men's ability to navigate and master diverse and sometimes contrasting registers of manhood enables them to reproduce a Palestinian national identity in exile while achieving socioeconomic integration in Jordan. In pursuing this argument, the article has two goals: to challenge popular stereotypes about Palestinian refugees in Jordan today; and to problematize the discursive mutual dependency between nationalism and hegemonic masculinity in the study of Palestinian masculinity.</p> </abstract>