This paper intends to discuss the concept of citizens’ activism by means of a critical use of the theoretical and political tool of intersectionality, mainly regarding coalitions led by feminist grassroots activists. The main research aim is to rethink its meaning and applicability in the analysis of the role of Israeli Mizrahi women activists and their status “in-between” within the Zionist settler colonial context. In spite of representing heterogenous ethno-national narratives and socio-political struggles, I will explore citizens’ activist strategies and practices, as well as common obstacles, Mizrahi women activists have experienced in the last decade. In the specificity of this panel and based on extensive fieldwork, my contribution aims to draw attention to the way through which Mizrahi women's grassroots activism can be seen as a powerful and alternative form of citizenship coming from a deep marginalised and nationalistic context. The Mizrahi feminist outlook has stressed the importance to address the needs of discriminated communities who have decided to struggle together on different fronts, such as for ending gentrification and for demanding social justice. In more general terms, as overcoming differences and divisions among citizen activists from underprivileged communities is one of the most difficult steps to create sites of intersection, I argue that a critical perspective on intersectionality represents a further innovative frame to be taken into consideration. It means to question in which way intersectionality can be used not only as theoretical and methodological tool, rather as a political tool on the ground by citizen activists in marginalised and nationalistic environments. In the attempt to balance theoretical analyses and grassroots politics experienced within the Zionist settler colonial framework, this debate can be considered as a challenging field of study needing to be widely addressed in terms of alternative forms of citizenship arising in ethno-national as well as socio-political disadvantaged backgrounds.

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