Family holds immense significance for everyone, as it defines the essence and identity of a person, particularly during formative years. As an ESC volunteer working with unaccompanied minors mainly coming from Syria, I realised that in their culture family assumes an even greater significance, since it is strongly intertwined with societal structures and norms.
According to the Syrian tradition, family represents one of the most important aspects of life. It not only encompasses the nuclear family, but also grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The value of familiar ties is so valued that family members often put the family’s reputation before their own needs. Therefore, central to Syrian familial dynamics is the concept of honour, a currency of social capital wherein individuals strive to safeguard the reputation of their family lineage.
This seems to apply to boys and men in the sense that they are educated to be strong, masculine and to live up to expectations; on the contrary, girls and women are considered vulnerable targets that need to be protected. Thus they are mainly relegated to domestic roles and caretaking responsibilities, although, according to Article 23 of the Syrian Constitution “The state shall provide women with all opportunities enabling them to effectively and fully contribute to the political, economic, social and cultural life, and the state shall work on removing the restrictions that prevent their development and participation in building society”.
However theory differs from practice, as societal norms are entrenched with gender believes.
According to research, these can be seen, for instance, in legal proceedings for divorce, where it is presumed that the children automatically belong to the father, or engagements organised by the older man of the family. Indeed, even if women are encouraged to receive a good education, it is widely anticipated that they will marry someone wealthy enough to support them, so that they will not have to work. Early marriages are socially accepted and normalized. By law, boys can get married at 18, while girls at 17, but a significant difference in age between the spouses can often be noticed.
As stated by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, many discriminatory practices and laws aid in perpetuating systemic gender disparities. These relate, for example, to equality before the law, protection against violence, equitable distribution of inheritance, access to housing and property, conferral of nationality to children. This situation has been persistent over the decades, yet the war outbroken in 2011 has, to some extent, altered the traditional role of women in Syria. On the one hand they have assumed newfound roles as decision-makers and primary breadwinners in many households. On the other hand and at the same time, women are now at even greater risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and institutionalised discrimination.
The dynamics in the Syrian tapestry of custom appear evidently patriarchal, causing strengthened gender inequalities, with immense pressures put on individuals of both sexes. Men are conditioned to always take the lead, to impose themselves over women and to use violence to show their authority and character. In turn, this connects to the role of women. They are, in fact, not only expected to show conformity and obedience, but also face harassment based on their gender and their conjugal status. Indeed, despite the legal provision of Article 23 of the Syrian Constitution, it appears that customs and tradition overcome laws, hindering women’s empowerment and rights and exposing them to various forms of violence and discrimination.