Men’s Bargaining with Patriarchy: The Case of Primaries within Hamulas in Palestinian Arab Communities in Israel

The authors expand Kandiyoti’s concept of patriarchal bargaining to include men’s negotiations. Using a case study of hamulas (clans) among Palestinian Arabs in Israel to determine the candidates for municipal elections, the authors analyzes how marginalized groups within a dominant socio-cultural knowledge regime strategize to promote change while trying to maximize security and optimize their life options. The authors demonstrate how gender identities and hierarchies are contested, re/produced, and negotiated as both a political means and an anchor for social identities.