Hassani Sara 2013 Thesis.Pdf
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Embodied Ideology: An Inquiry Into Normative Representations of Female Resistors of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Iran/People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran Sara Hassani Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters in Political Science with a specialization in Political Thought École d'études politiques, Faculté des sciences sociales School of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences Université d'Ottawa/ University of Ottawa © Sara Hassani, Ottawa, Canada 2013 Abstract: This thesis analyzes representations of female resistors of the Mojahedin-e Khalq or People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran within contemporary schools of academia and western/Iranian medias. Theoretically informed by critical discourse analysis and feminist thought this project identifies common stereotypes attributed to women involved in proscribed violence. Furthermore, this dissertation tests for the presence of normative and ‘gendered’ portrayals of female resistors in popular discourse, evaluates their sufficiency, and presents a more accurate portrait based on interviews and a close analysis of the organization’s history and policies. In other words, it critically examines how female resistors of the MEK/PMOI are captured by the common portrait and through the study of experiential authorship and interviews demonstrates the need to re-evaluate the narratives used to misrepresent an organization and its members who have radicalized notions of gender equality and its relationship to revolution and democratization. Keywords: Mojahedin-e Khalq Iran, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, resistance, Iran, critical discourse analysis, narratives, ideology, feminist thought *** Résumé: Cette thèse analyse les représentations des femmes dans la résistance des Moudjahiddines-e khalq ou l’Organisation des moudjahiddines du peuple iranien dans les écoles contemporaines du monde universitaire et des médias occidentaux / iranienne. Théoriquement informé par l'analyse critique du discours et par la pensée féministe, ce projet identifie les stéréotypes courants attribués aux femmes impliqués dans la violence proscrite. En outre, cette thèse cherche la présence de représentations normatives et «genrées» des femmes dans la résistance de la MEK/ OMPI dans le discours populaire, évalue leur suffisance, et présente un portrait plus précis basé sur des entrevues et une analyse approfondie de l'histoire et des politiques de l'organisation. En d'autres termes, il examine de manière critique comment les femmes dans la résistance de la MEK / OMPI sont capturés par le portrait commun et à travers l'étude des textes rédigés à la première personne par ceux qui ont vécu les expériences et des entrevues démontre la nécessité de réévaluer les récits utilisés pour représenter faussement une organisation et ses membres qui ont radicalisés les notions de l'égalité des sexes et sa relation à la révolution et à la démocratisation. Mots-clés: Moudjahiddines-e khalq iraniens, Organisation des moudjahidine du peuple d'iran, résistance, iran, analyse critique du discours, récits, idéologie, pensée féministe ii Introduction...................................................................................................................1 0.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 0.2. Research Question .......................................................................................................................... 4 0.3. Historical Context ........................................................................................................................... 5 0.3.1. The Iranian Revolutionary Period ................................................................................... 5 0.3.2. The MEK/PMOI 1965-1989 ........................................................................................... 8 0.4. Literature Review .......................................................................................................................... 12 0.4.1. Why Women? The Importance of Gender as an Analytical Category in the Study of Social Movements ..................................................................................................... 13 0.4.2. Discourses Surrounding Women’s Involvement In Armed Resistance and Violence . 15 0.4.3. The Historical Lens: Academic Narratives and the MEK/PMOI ................................ 18 0.5. Theoretical Framework: CDA and the Critical Feminist Lens ..................................................... 20 0.6. Mixed Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Discourse Analysis .............................................. 24 0.5.1. How do the MEK/PMOI approach about gender? ....................................................... 26 0.7. Chapter Outlines .......................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 1 – The Ideology Behind Narrative...............................................................30 1.1. Caricatures of Their Selves............................................................................................................32 1.1.2. Casting Her Person ....................................................................................................... 33 1.1.2.1. Women as Mothers ....................................................................................... 33 1.1.2.2. Women as Monsters ................................................................................................... 34 1.1.2.3. Women as Whores ........................................................................................ 35 1.1.2.4. Women as Heretics ....................................................................................... 36 1.1.3. Casting Her-Story ......................................................................................................... 37 1.1.3.1. Women as Patriarchal Appendages .............................................................. 37 1.1.3.2. Women as Oppressed Veiled Muslims ......................................................... 38 1.1.3.3. Women as Victims of Indoctrination ............................................................ 39 1.1.4. Casting Her Role .......................................................................................................... 39 1.1.4.1. Women as Figureheads ................................................................................. 39 1.1.4.2. Women as Subservient ................................................................................. 40 1.1.4.3. Women as False Idols ................................................................................... 40 Chapter 2- The Common Portrait................................................................................42 2.1. Academic Literature: Abrahamian & Cohen ................................................................................ 42 2.1.2. Casting Her Person ....................................................................................................... 43 2.1.3. Casting Her Story .......................................................................................................... 45 2.1.4. Casting Her Role ........................................................................................................... 53 2.2. Western & Iranian Media: ........................................................................................................... 56 2.2.1. Notable Cases: NYT Magazine & FARS News Expose ............................................. 56 2.2.2. Figures & Findings ....................................................................................................... 63 iii 2.2.2.1. Coding for Person ........................................................................................ 64 2.2.2.2. Coding for Story ........................................................................................... 69 2.2.2.3. Coding for Role ............................................................................................ 73 2.2.3. Meta Findings .............................................................................................................. 76 Chapter 3 – My Resistance is Symptomatic of My Enemy’s Monstrosity....................78 3.1. (Auto)Biographical Portraits of Political Prisoners: Resilience and Courage…...........................78 3.2. Female Resistors: Leaders of a Revolution……………………………………………………...84 Chapter 4 – Re-Writing the Script: The Personal is Not Pathological ..................... 91 4.1. Adopting A Life Of Resistance: Recounting Motivations ............................................................ 93 4.1.1. Poverty and Class Divisions ......................................................................................... 94 4.1.2. Political Freedoms, Nationalism and Democracy ......................................................... 96 4.1.3. Women’s and Minority Rights ................................................................................... 100 4.1.4. Catalysts: Joining the Ranks of the Mojahedin ......................................................... 103 4.2. Gender Equality: The Enghelabeh Ideologique examined ........................................................ 105 4.2.1. Gender Equality Defined ............................................................................................ 106 4.2.2. Misogyny