'Arabische First Ladies, een antoriëntalistisch offensief?'

The differences and parallels between ‘the Orient’ and the ‘Occident’ have long been a subject of importance in academic research. This study explores these contradictions from a less obvious point of view than does most research on orientalism. Here the paradox that seems to exist between the orientalistic view on Arab Women, depicted by Western media and the contradicting Western image that some Arabic First Ladies demonstrate, is investigated. With the use of the image that Arab First Ladies Queen Rania of Jordan, First Lady Wafaa Sleiman of Lebanon and Sheikha Moza of Qatar display, at their respective websites, the research investigates if this imaging can be regarded as Public diplomacy. Building upon theories regarding representation and orientalism, and making use of several different qualitative and quantitative research methods, the difference in representation of ‘normal’ Arab women and the Arab First Ladies is discovered. After that, based on theories on soft power and public diplomacy, was determined if this self representation of Arab First Ladies can be regarded as Public diplomacy. This study showed that the imaging depicted by Arab First Ladies does not match the imaging of Arab women by Western media. Also the First Ladies where connected to so called Western ‘themes’ like education and emancipation a lot on their websites. The study also found that this self representation of Arab First Ladies is a form of Public diplomacy and that they are depicting an anti orientalistic conduct.