The (in)visibility of Arab women in political journalism

While the expansion of the Arab news and media industries over the past two decades has provided unprecedented opportunities for women to access and succeed in the media field, journalists are still not expected to question the political order. Many women have not managed to fend off the newsroom’s discrimination against them because women are often expected to serve as positive role models and representatives of their country, reflecting a modern image of the nation, instead of challenging the government and championing the social reforms so acutely needed. Arab women journalists are generally expected to support rather than challenge the patriarchal order in times of political turbulence, in order to preserve the perceived social stability provided by adhering to the status quo. Those few who defy the status quo may risk putting their future career prospects in jeopardy or be forced to abandon the high-status political beat which is largely dominated by men journalists. This chapter discusses some of these challenges faced by Arab women journalists and demonstrates how recent turmoil and repercussions against political reforms in many Arab countries have exacerbated the challenges.