In new book, UWL’s Heidi Morrison explores how Palestinian youth are pushing back against oppression

In new book, UWL's Heidi Morrison explores how Palestinian youth are pushing back against oppression

Heidi Morrison's latest scholarly work has been seven years in the making, but it couldn't have come at a more relevant time.

Morrison's new book, "Lived Resistance: Palestinian Youth and the Fight Against Oppression," examines the lived experiences and resistance strategies of Palestinian children amid ongoing violence.

The book's inception can be traced to a panel discussion Morrison participated in during an academic conference.

"I saw there was a great deal of research being done on Palestinian children and wanted to put that work in dialogue together in one book," Morrison explains. "The greatest challenge came in the last year with the outbreak of the war in Gaza and the heavy emotional drain that has taken on me and the other contributors."

In the book,Morrison explores the concept of "lived resistance," a term she uses to describe the embodied resistance of Palestinian youth against systemic oppression.

"In large part, Palestinian young people resourcefully rely on what is available to them: their bodies (in flesh and mind), a phenomenon this book refers to as lived resistance," Morrison says. "Lived resistance is the embodied process by which people purposefully resist, individually and collectively, unjust domination in their everyday lives. Lived resistance refers to a way of life for children under constant dispossession."

With the expected number of children under 18 years of age in Occupied Palestine currently estimated at 2.4 million (41% of the total population in the West Bank, 47% in the Gaza Strip), Morrison's work challenges existing narratives about children in conflict zones. Often depicted as passive victims, or alternatively, as resilient beings who can bounce back from adversity, Palestinian children are frequently misunderstood in both academic and media portrayals.

"My book shows that young people in conflict zones cannot be reduced to one narrative alone," Morrison says. Sheaims to dispute oversimplified views by illustrating that these young individuals are actively shaping their lives and resisting oppression in ways that extend beyond mere survival or adaptive resilience.

Morrison's research reveals that children are disproportionately affected by violence, often occurring in their daily environments-whether at school, while playing or at home. This representation of Palestinian children, Morrison argues, is crucial for understanding the broader implications of conflict on the youngest and most vulnerable.

"I hope that more scholars of different regions of the world will situate the concept of lived resistance in other social, historical, political, economic and cultural contexts," Morrison says.

Additionally, Morrison argues that the lack of formal citizenship for minors prevents them from participating in conventional political processes, such as voting.

"I hope that policymakers will stop to listen to young people in their unconventional modes of resistance and ways of speaking back to power," Morrison continues.

The book features contributions from scholars at various stages in their careers, including several Palestinian academics. This diverse range of voices aims to move away from traditional external observations and provide a more authentic representation of Palestinian youth.

"This is a book about young people written not just by adults. In fact, it includes a preface written by Jana Tamimi, one of the world's youngest journalists with press credentials, and her cousin Ahed," Morrison explains.

Looking ahead, Morrison is already working on her next project. Further delving into the personal narratives and memories of Palestinian children affected by conflict, Morrison will publish a single-author book titled "Inner Wounds: How Young Palestinians Remember the Second Intifada."

Morrison will be bringing UWL students to Egypt in the summer of 2025 to conduct volunteer work with refugees of war and interested students can obtain more information here.