Gender Discrimination towards Female Arab Teenagers in Israel and Their Involvement in Severe Violence: The Mediating Role of Closeness to Parents

Abstract

Abstract The field of antisocial behaviour has been systematically ignoring women, particularly from ethnic minorities, probably because they occupy a lower position in society. Based on intersectionality theory, the current study examined perceptions of being discriminated against as a result of being a female in a conservative society, which restricts familial support, and the contribution of such discrimination towards violence against others amongst female Arab adolescents. The present study is based on a sample of 404 Arab female adolescents and young women (aged 12–21 years) in Israel. Participants completed a structured, anonymous self-report questionnaire. The results showed that perpetration of severe violence by female participants was correlated significantly and positively with affiliation with delinquent peers, perceived ethnonational discrimination and sexual victimisation. Conversely, closeness to parents was significantly and negatively correlated with perpetration of severe violence by female participants. The findings also showed that the association between gender discrimination and severe physical violence was mediated by closeness to parents. The findings suggest that traditional patriarchal attitudes towards gender roles might be a risk factor for antisocial behaviour and involvement in delinquency. They also highlight the critical role of parental factors in mediating violent behaviours amongst female adolescents experiencing gender discrimination in a patriarchal society.