Not as if the
Middle Eastern country of Syria has been big on liberalizing Women’s rights but
what started as a peaceful protest in 2011 and within months became an armed
conflict that continues to grow fatal each day, has made both women and
children its easiest targets.
Seeds of the
Arab Spring pollinated in Syria over the same issues as the rest of Arab
movement i.e. public discontent towards the un-democratic government. The
social uprising took an ugly turn when the government decided to respond to the
social movement by military action and the Syrian society got divided into pro
and anti government supporters.
The women of
Syria played an active role in what at one time was an un-armed social movement
by participating in demonstrations even supporting and helping displaced
refugees. While an armed action by the government in every way or form is detrimental
to any section of the society it’s rippling effect on women is anti-progressive
and manifold.
Even prior to the
rebellion women needed to obtain written permission from male members in the
family to travel abroad but at least earlier they weren’t banned from driving
by virtue of being a woman or even from taking public transport.
Women in a lot
of areas are restricted to leave premises of their houses even for essential supplies,
majorly constraining families who have lost male members to the conflict. There
is a strict emphasis on what is considered acceptable clothing for women. Women
are denied opportunities of education and employment. Male members in the
families face extremist threats to ensure women confirm to the social norms. In
some provinces, it has come to be socially acceptable to take women as property
when they do not seem to comply.
During the peak
of the armed conflict women were attacked and even used as human shields. Later
while the social system in the country continued to collapse, it was followed
by a rise in domestic violence and few reported [most undocumented] cases of
sexual violence against women even in security branches.
Poor economical
conditions pose threats of forced prostitution. Marriage [even untimely] has
come to be seen as a form to ensure daughters are protected and in some cases
including a bride price to ensure economic support to the family which makes
the women prone to abuse.
The social
uprising turned armed rebellion has had a farfetched impact causing the ‘anti-evolution’
of gender equality and continues to be so as peace talks so far have been
non-conclusive. Despite all adversity, women continue to play an active role in
transitioning Syria by organizing, forming support groups for health care and
psychological as well as legal consultation, aiding rehabilitation of refugees
thereby continuing their struggle towards a stable society.
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