Simona Sharoni

Simona Sharoni (born 1961) is a feminist scholar and activist[1] who is currently Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Merrimack College.

Simona Sharoni
Sharoni in 2017
Born1961 (1961)
Tecuci, Romania
Academic background
Alma materGeorge Mason University
ThesisConflict resolution through feminist lenses: theorizing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the perspective of women peace activists in Israel (1993)
Academic work
InstitutionsMerrimack College, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Evergreen State College, American University
Main interestsGender and Women’s Studies
Websitesimonasharoni.com

Early life and education

Sharoni was born in Romania in 1961. She immigrated with her parents to Israel in 1963. She earned an M.A. degree in Counseling from Haifa University. In 1989 she moved to the United States to pursue doctoral studies, and holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.

Career

Sharoni taught at Haifa University in Israel, American University in Washington DC, The Evergreen State College and St. Martin's University in Olympia, WA. She also held appointments at the University of Oregon in Eugene, OR and at the University of Cincinnati, OH.

She studies and writes extensively on the subjects of Gender in Israel and Palestine,[2][3] women in time of war,[4] feminist solidarity, men and masculinities,[5] women's movements,[6] transnational feminism,[7] college sexual assault.

She is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Victim blaming in Israel-Palestine

Sharoni, who served in the Israeli military, supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and an academic boycott of Israel. In her academic work, she compared victim blaming in rape cases to public attitudes about Palestinians.[8][9]

“This is the assumption that Palestinians basically bring the violence on themselves. It’s similar to telling the survivor that it’s what she was wearing, that she gave mixed messages,” Sharoni said. “For example, ‘They didn’t agree to the partition, they’ve rejected attempts to make peace, they elected for Hamas …’ There’s no responsibility and no accountability for the perpetrator of violence, even though that perpetrator is breaking international law.”[8]

“In addition to blaming the victim, Palestinians are not believed, which is the same with survivors. ‘They’re exaggerating, it’s not that bad, because Israel is a democracy.’ It’s actually very similar to saying, ‘No, he’s actually a nice guy,’ about a man accused of rape.”[8]

Works

Sharoni has written two books: Gender and The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Politics of Women's Resistance. New York: Syracuse University Press, 1995.[10][11] and La Logica Della Pace (The Logic of Peace). Torino, Italy: Edizioni Gruppo Abele, 1997 (in Italian). Sharoni is also co-editor (with Julia Welland, Linda Steiner, and Jennifer Pedersen) of ' 'The Handbook on Gender and War' '. London: Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc, 2016.[12]

Sharoni has also written many journal articles[13] book chapters,[14] and other publications, presenting the results of her research. These have been widely discussed by other sociologists,[15][16] historians, political analysts[17] and feminist writers.[18][19]

Lingerie joke incident

On April 5, 2018, while attending the annual conference of the International Studies Association (ISA), Professor Richard Ned Lebow, a Professor at King's College London, and Professor Simona Sharoni were on a crowded elevator when someone in the elevator offered to press their floor buttons; in response, Lebow jokingly answered, “ladies’ lingerie.”

Following that, Sharoni filed a complaint against him, arguing that his use of sexual innuendo in a public space at an academic conference was a violation of ISA's Code of Conduct.[20] An ISA committee found him in violation of its Code of Conduct and asked him to apologize to Sharoni.[21]

Following the complaint Lebow sent an e-mail to Sharoni explaining the context of his remark. In his e-mail he explained that in large department stores in the 1940s and 1950s there were lift operators that would request which department the customers wanted and it had become a standard gag line to reply "ladies' lingerie" when someone asked which floor you wanted.[22]

Lebow indicated that he will not apologize.[23] Initial media coverage reported Sharoni's action as an example of political correctness. Columnist Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post sided with Lebow. "Let’s maintain some sense of proportion and civility," she said. Not every offensive comment was intended that way, and Sharoni should have checked with Lebow before bringing a disciplinary procedure, said Marcus. Marcus also quoted an email from Sharoni saying that “political correctness” was nothing more than a “blanket excuse by those who refuse to rethink and change their racist, sexist and homophobic beliefs and practices. From inappropriate jokes in public spaces to unwanted sexual advances and assault, men in positions of power are outraged when they are being held accountable, even if the sanction is as minor as a request for an apology.” Of more than 2,300 comments on Marcus's story about the incident, the vast majority condemned Sharoni[24]

The incident went public. Sharoni said that in response, she had received hate mail, and that this was an example of “the impact on women and other marginalized groups” who witness abuse, and would discourage them from speaking up, even if they follow written policy and even if they are right. Lebow said that Sharoni and ISA should have tried to resolve the matter informally, since “international relations scholars know that dialogue is the first step in addressing conflict and coercion the last. Yet, ISA went right to coercion at the outset.”[25][26]

References
  1. Giulia Daniele (16 April 2014). Women, Reconciliation and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Road Not Yet Taken. Taylor & Francis. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-1-317-93625-1.
  2. Dimitar Bechev; Kalypso Nicolaidis (30 November 2009). Mediterranean Frontiers: Borders, Conflict and Memory in a Transnational World. I.B.Tauris. pp. 214–. ISBN 978-0-85771-467-1.
  3. Pinar Bilgin (2 June 2004). Regional Security in the Middle East: A Critical Perspective. Routledge. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-1-134-34241-9.
  4. Theresa O'Keefe (25 October 2013). Feminist Identity Development and Activism in Revolutionary Movements. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 205–. ISBN 978-1-137-31474-1.
  5. Ronit Lenṭin (2000). Israel and the Daughters of the Shoah: Reoccupying the Territories of Silence. Berghahn Books. pp. 6–. ISBN 978-1-57181-775-4.
  6. Susan Hawthorne; Bronwyn Winter (2002). September 11, 2001: Feminist Perspectives. Spinifex Press. pp. 396–. ISBN 978-1-876756-27-7.
  7. Susan Lord; Annette Burfoot (1 October 2006). Killing Women: The Visual Culture of Gender and Violence. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. pp. 289–. ISBN 978-0-88920-497-3.
  8. 'Public' Information: Open-records requests involving a SUNY Plattsburgh professor who backs the Israel boycott follow pattern of challenges to faculty members with controversial views on a range of issues. By Colleen Flaherty, Inside Higher Ed, September 13, 2016
  9. Why Feminists Should Care About The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Interview with Aviva Stahl. The Establishment. Apr 13, 2016
  10. Andrea Dworkin (1 June 2000). Scapegoat: The Jews, Israel and Womens' Liberation. Simon and Schuster. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-0-7432-1054-6.
  11. Bahati M. Kuumba (5 September 2001). Gender and Social Movements. Rowman Altamira. pp. 58–. ISBN 978-0-7591-1695-5.
  12. The Handbook on Gender and War. Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc.
  13. Rachel S. Harris (17 December 2012). Narratives of Dissent: War in Contemporary Israeli Arts and Culture. Wayne State University Press. pp. 271–. ISBN 978-0-8143-3804-9.
  14. Michael N. Barnett (1 February 2012). Israel in Comparative Perspective: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom. SUNY Press. pp. 105–. ISBN 978-0-7914-9580-3.
  15. Anne Sisson Runyan; V. Spike Peterson (3 December 2013). Global Gender Issues in the New Millennium. Westview Press. pp. 262–. ISBN 978-0-8133-4916-9.
  16. Elke Kaschl (1 January 2003). Dance and Authenticity in Israel and Palestine: Performing the Nation. BRILL. pp. 7–. ISBN 90-04-13238-4.
  17. Tamar Mayer (2 September 2003). Women and the Israeli Occupation: The Politics of Change. Routledge. pp. 5–. ISBN 978-1-134-86663-2.
  18. Pat Mahony; Christine Zmroczek (14 January 2004). Women and Social Class: International Feminist Perspectives. Routledge. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-1-135-35771-9.
  19. Nanny M. W. de Vries, Jan Best. Thamyris. Rodopi. pp. 374–. ISSN 1381-1312.
  20. Mangan, Katherine (2018-05-06). "He Makes a Joke. She Isn't Laughing: 'Lingerie' Comment in Elevator Leads to Uproar Among Scholars". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  21. "When one scholar's 'lame' joke is another's offensive comment". Retrieved 2018-05-09.
  22. Friedersdorf, Conor (2018-05-09). "Is 'Ladies Lingerie' a Harmless Joke or Harassment?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2018-12-05.
  23. Hongoltz-Hetling, Matt (May 7, 2018). "Valley News". Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  24. Marcus, Ruth (May 3, 2018). "The Washington Post". Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  25. "Merrimack College professor files complaint over 'lingerie' joke". Lowell Sun. Associated Press. May 5, 2018.
  26. Colleen Flaherty (May 7, 2018). "When one scholar's 'lame' joke is another's offensive comment". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2018-05-09.
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