Discourses of Denial: Mediations of Race, Gender, and Violence

Extract

Discourses of Denial: Mediations of Race, Gender, and Violence, Yasmin Jiwani, Vancouver: UBC Press, 2006, pp. viii, 255.

At first glance many political scientists may not see Discourse of Denial as an intervention that speaks to their discipline. After all, Jiwani's examination of racism, sexism and violence in Canada is explicitly directed to those who traverse multiple and interdisciplinary boundaries, racialized young women and immigrant women, front-line feminist anti-violence, anti-racist and anti-poverty activists, as well as policy makers. However, political scientists can gain much from this persuasively argued, methodologically diverse, innovative and well-researched book. Jiwani addresses how certain institutions—in particular, the dominant media—serve to “mediate” violence. Mediations involve discursive strategies that give recognition to certain expressions of violence and completely erase others, especially racism. Since political scientists frequently rely on the media in their research and teaching, and serve as media commentators as part of their community service, there is much here that is thought-provoking.