Gendered National Memory on Israeli Postage Stamps

From Gender Blindness to Feminist Commemoration

in Israel Studies Review
Author:
Einat Lachover Sapir Academic College, Israel einatl@mail.sapir.ac.il

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6503-6675
and
Inbal Ben-Asher Gitler Sapir College, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel inbalbag@gmail.com

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https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9748-9129
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3167/isr.2022.370306
Keywords:
commemoration; feminist historiography; Israel; national heritage; national memory; postage stamps
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Abstract

In this article we focus on the gendered national construction on Israeli stamps commemorating renowned women over the course of Israel's history. We analyze gender construction on both the selection of the stamps and in their design. Based on analyses of the social role of women in Israeli historiography, archival documents, interviews with fourteen key figures involved in conceiving and designing the stamps, and the way stamp design constructs gendered memory, we outline major aspects of commemorating women in stamps: gender blindness, women's accomplishments, identity politics, and the emergence of gender as a theme. These are discussed in the context of gendering in official commemoration, the development of feminist historiography and discourse in Israel, and the conjunction of these issues and stamp design.

Contributor Notes

EINAT LACHOVER is an associate professor of Communication at Sapir Academic College. Her work is dedicated to critical analysis of the encounters between gender and a broad range of media forms and contexts. She has published in international journals, including: Communication Theory, Journalism, International Journal of Communication, Communication Culture and Critique, Feminist Media Studies, Journal of Children and Media, European Journal of Women's Studies, Journal of Gender Studies, Israel Affairs, NASHIM, The Journal of Israeli History. ORCID: 0000-0002-6503-6675 E-mail: einatl@mail.sapir.ac.il

INBAL BEN-ASHER GITLER is a senior lecturer of architecture and visual culture at Sapir College and a teaching fellow at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Her research focuses on the modern architecture of Israel/Palestine, as well as Israeli visual culture. Her recent book, Architectural Culture in British Mandate Jerusalem, 1917–1948 (Edinburgh University Press, 2020) is the recipient of the Azrieli Institute of Israel Studies / Concordia University Library Award for Best Book in Israel Studies. ORCID: 0000-0001-9748-9129 E-mail: inbalbag@gmail.com

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Cover Israel Studies Review
Article Category:
Research Article
Page Count:
25
Keywords:
commemoration; feminist historiography; Israel; national heritage; national memory; postage stamps
Print Publication Date:
01 Dec 2022
Online Publication Date:
01 Dec 2022
Copyright:
© Association for Israel Studies 2022

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