21003 - Constructing and Contesting Identities: Race, Representation, and Resistance in the MENA Region

Description

This panel brings together interdisciplinary research examining the ways in which identity, race, and systemic structures shape and constrain the experiences of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations. From cultural production to legal classifications, environmental violence, and shifting political values, the panelists explore the intersections of race, belonging, and resistance.

One paper investigates systemic racism in casting practices, exposing the enduring stereotypes and exclusion faced by Middle Eastern actors and the broader societal impacts of these representations. Another examines how White individuals respond to discovering Middle Eastern ancestry through genetic testing, questioning the boundaries of racial identity. A third presentation explores how varying definitions of the MENA population influence demographic analyses and health disparities, revealing the stakes of categorization.

Shifting focus to structural violence, one study maps how Israeli policies weaponize environmental and zoning laws to displace Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, demonstrating eco-social violence as a tool of settler colonialism. Finally, a cross-national analysis of Egypt and Turkiye explores the rise of liberal values in response to religious domination, offering insight into the evolving political landscape of the region.

Together, these presentations highlight the ways in which racial and national identities are constructed, contested, and leveraged in cultural, political, and socio-economic contexts. By interrogating structures of power and resistance, this panel provides a critical lens on the forces that shape Middle Eastern identities both within and beyond the region.

Sub Unit

• Arab/Middle Eastern/North African People in North America

Presider

• Sinem Esengen, The Ohio State University

Individual Presentations

• Held at a Distance: Genetic Distancing and Middle Eastern Ancestry Test Results - Morgan Hanna-Ghattas, University of Pennsylvania; Wendy D. Roth, University of Pennsylvania

• How Existing Definitions of Middle Eastern/North African Impact Our Understanding of the Population and their Outcomes - Leila Moustafa, University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Mapping the Multiple Strategies of Eco-Social Violence by Israel Against Palestinians: Water in the Jordan Valley - Stephen Philip Gasteyer, Michigan State University

• Trends toward liberal values in Egypt and Turkiye: Findings from cross-national panel surveys - Mansoor Moaddel, University of Maryland-College Park; Fatma El-Zenaty, Cairo University; Caglayan Isik, Frekans Research, Istanbul, Türkiye; Mert Teoman, Frekans Research, Istanbul, Türkiye

Session Organizer

• Hani J Bawardi, University of Michigan, Dearborn