Female journalists experience Western Wall’s longstanding gender segregation rules, and it’s Mike Pence’s fault somehow

Female reporters covering the vice president’s recent visit to the holy site were forced to contend with its longstanding tradition of sex segregation, which caused frustration on account of the fact their view was blocked by their male colleagues.

It’s important to note that the site is regulated by an ultra-orthodox group called the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. It’s important to note this group organized Pence’s recent visit. It’s also important to remember that the rule separating men and women is old, and that it precedes the American vice president’s appearance this week by many years.

Yet, for whatever reason, female journalists coined a hashtag this week suggesting Pence was to blame for their frustrating experience.

“Separation at the Western Wall. The women stuck in isolation and can not photograph, work. Women journalists are second-class citizens. The American women photographers are frantically yelling at the representatives of the White House. #PenceFence,” tweeted Israeli journalist Tal Schneider.

Another journalist, Noga Tarnopolsky, said she was “penned off behind the men,” which, she claimed (incorrectly) “has zero to do with any ‘religious rule.’”

Photos shared on social media showed male reporters were situated on a raised and covered platform, which was placed directly in front of their female colleagues. Pence’s team said later that this was done at the insistence of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation.

i24news’ Ariane Ménage said in a separate note on social media, “When it’s a bit hard to do your job / women journalists forced to stand behind the men at the separation fence at the western wall for Mike Pence’s visit #PenceInIsrael #PenceFence.”

The Guardian ran a headline that read, “Female journalists kept at back of Pence’s visit to Western Wall.”

The Washington Post published an article titled, “Female journalists covering Pence in Israel forced to stand behind male colleagues.”

The Post also described how the scene was arranged to accommodate both male and female reporters: “For Pence’s visit to the wall, the foundation set up two platforms side by side straddling the barrier. As Pence prayed on the men’s side, however, it was difficult for some of the female journalists to see above the cameras and microphones held by their male colleagues.”

What’s interesting is that most of the reports detailing the “#pencefence” hubbub are careful to note that the gender separation rule predates Pence by many years.

The Post, for example, included this passage in its report: “The Western Wall — the outer wall of the raised esplanade that is called the Temple Mount by Jews and al-Haram al-Sharif by Muslims — is currently under the authority of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish Western Wall Heritage Foundation. According to custom, the plaza is divided by gender, with men praying on one side of a barrier and women on the other.”

NPR meanwhile reported, “The Western Wall, remnants of a wall from the biblical Jewish temple complex, is considered one of the holiest spots in Judaism. In the early 20th century, men and women prayed together at the site. But in recent decades, the site has been administered by Orthodox Jewish authorities who follow the tradition of separating men and women during prayer.”

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation responded to the controversy with an annoyed-sounding statement that claimed the situation for Pence’s visit was “the same” as “during President Trump’s visit to the Western Wall in May 2017.”

“We reject any attempt to divert the discussion from the important and moving visit of the US Vice President and his wife at the Western Wall,” the statement added.

And yet – and yet! – the branded hashtag that came out of this ordeal was “#Pencefence,” as if the American vice president was personally responsible for regulations that existed long before his visit.

Lastly, just in case you didn’t think this particular narrative was unfair enough already, it turns out Pence’s team actually responded immediately to the situation after it became clear female journalists were being impeded in their work.

NPR’s Tamara Keith said U.S. officials “provided chairs and removed the top of a rain tent in attempts to help female reporters get a better view.”

“The Pence people ultimately took the cover off the top to improve the shot. And yelled at male reporters/photographers to stop blocking our view,” Keith said in an email.

But #pencefence or whatever.