Reporting by
Ahmed Khalil; Translation by Rana Abdul) (Zaman Al Wasl)- The absence of
young men has become of the characteristics of Syrian society in the
last period, as most of the youths and men are absent between those
detained and those missing or those who have disappeared under the earth
or those who have escaped to one of the neighboring countries or any
place they could reach to fall into the kiln of alienation.
-Women replace men-
As a result of the emptying of the country of most of its youths and men, the window is cleared for women to take center stage although women too are among those detained.
It is noticeable that in many cases women are now responsible for running their houses and carry the burdens of its demands including the mess and tragedies that paint the country.
It is obvious that where ever one turns one’s face or walks in the country, you see Syrian women at the forefront. She is the one frequenting governmental offices to complete processes for her and others in her family whether her absent husband or her husband who is hidden from the view of the security checkpoints.
For her to fall into the labyrinth of need and financial and moral exploitation, where most Syrian women are today authorized representatives “according to special and general agents” of their men, brothers and children, for her to fill in for them to complete things particular to them such as “register their newly born children, register a marriage, extend unpaid leave, issue or renew passports for one of them, run their businesses, rent their
houses, or sell their property.”
-Working Syrian Women-
One of the results of the continued non-resolution of the Syrian situation is the visibility of Syrian women within Syria and in neighboring countries as the principle bread winner. She is taking on different jobs to earn a living for her and her children.
Of the most practiced professions Syrian women are working in today, working on agricultural land (agricultural work) from harvesting crops (strawberries, cucumber, marrow, beans, olives) … and packing produce into the wooden or carton boxes. Women earn between 200-150 Syrian Pounds per hour inside Syria and especially in areas under regime control. But in Lebanon they earn 20 thousand Lebanese Pounds for the same work (working from 6 am in the morning till 12 noon).
Of the agricultural work women practice, one is harvesting, “wheat harvesting”, and she earns a wage of approximately 300 Syrian Pounds for one hour of work in some Syrian areas, whereas the wage is approximately 30 thousand Lebanese Pounds for the same work in Lebanon.
Syrian women also work in cleaning the land from weeds and rocks for a wage of approximately 200 Syrian Pounds for one hour of work and 20 thousand Lebanese Pounds for 6 hours of work in Lebanon.
-Syrian women and cleaning jobs-
Some Syrian women are being forced to work in cleaning houses where one of them earns a wage ranging between 1500-1000 Syrian Pounds inside Syria for one day according to the size of the house. For the same job in Lebanon, Syrian women earn a wage of approximate 40 thousand Lebanese Pounds for one day’s work.
Syrian women roam governmental offices in Syria to clean bureaucrats’ desks and earn 100 Syrian pounds from each employee who allows her to clean and re-arrange their desk.
It was recently noticed that Syrian women are being hired in governmental offices with wages of approximately 18 thousand Syrian Pounds, with the possibility of increase with each promotion and job seniority, or as employee for public health centers, dispensaries, clinics, and hospitals.
And Syrian women today work in cleaning cafeterias and shawarma shops inside Syria and earn an average wage of 300 Syrian Pounds per hour.
-Traveling saleswoman and stall salespersons-
It is also noticeable today that Syrian women have entered work domains that have traditionally be monopolized by men such as coffee street sellers, in a rare phenomenon on Syrian streets where the price of a cup of coffee is 50 Syrian Pounds. Some women are also selling soft drinks, ice creams, and tobacco on the streets.
Syrian women are also standing at road sides to wash and clean cars for customers and they are paid random fees based on the customer’s whim.
This phenomenon appears also on Lebanese streets, and below is an image of one of the Syrian women selling tissue papers in al-Raouche Beirut.
-Working as sales assistants in shops-
The favored work opportunity and favorite that Syrian girls find appropriate, but is insufficient to pay the growing costs and the accumulated needs- is working in clothing, shoes, accessory shops, and pastry shops, but she earns a monthly wage that ranges between 12000-8000 Syrian Pounds according to the shop’s location inside Syria, and this is a low wage.
On the other hand, for the same labor she earns between 400-500 Lebanese Pounds in Lebanon based on the area and the name of the shop.
The governmental offices with a feminine flavor, harassment, and extortion
When you enter government offices in Syria you notice that most of the employees are women and some are men over the age of 42.
One of the results of women working is that they become more exposed to extortion and harassment from members of the National Defense and those wearing “camouflaged outfits” in Syria. Also from some weak spirited Lebanese and many other examples.
As an example of the psychological damage and contempt, in one park in Lebanon a Syrian woman with three girls took her daughters to play in the park and there a Lebanese girl gave her a contemptuous and humiliating look and told her, “refugees and hungry and you are having children.”
It was one of the truths and felt realities that are lived in all the streets whether in Syria or Lebanon. So where are the humanitarian organizations and where are organizations defending women’s rights in Syrian women’s realities today?
-Women replace men-
As a result of the emptying of the country of most of its youths and men, the window is cleared for women to take center stage although women too are among those detained.
It is noticeable that in many cases women are now responsible for running their houses and carry the burdens of its demands including the mess and tragedies that paint the country.
It is obvious that where ever one turns one’s face or walks in the country, you see Syrian women at the forefront. She is the one frequenting governmental offices to complete processes for her and others in her family whether her absent husband or her husband who is hidden from the view of the security checkpoints.
For her to fall into the labyrinth of need and financial and moral exploitation, where most Syrian women are today authorized representatives “according to special and general agents” of their men, brothers and children, for her to fill in for them to complete things particular to them such as “register their newly born children, register a marriage, extend unpaid leave, issue or renew passports for one of them, run their businesses, rent their
houses, or sell their property.”
-Working Syrian Women-
One of the results of the continued non-resolution of the Syrian situation is the visibility of Syrian women within Syria and in neighboring countries as the principle bread winner. She is taking on different jobs to earn a living for her and her children.
Of the most practiced professions Syrian women are working in today, working on agricultural land (agricultural work) from harvesting crops (strawberries, cucumber, marrow, beans, olives) … and packing produce into the wooden or carton boxes. Women earn between 200-150 Syrian Pounds per hour inside Syria and especially in areas under regime control. But in Lebanon they earn 20 thousand Lebanese Pounds for the same work (working from 6 am in the morning till 12 noon).
Of the agricultural work women practice, one is harvesting, “wheat harvesting”, and she earns a wage of approximately 300 Syrian Pounds for one hour of work in some Syrian areas, whereas the wage is approximately 30 thousand Lebanese Pounds for the same work in Lebanon.
Syrian women also work in cleaning the land from weeds and rocks for a wage of approximately 200 Syrian Pounds for one hour of work and 20 thousand Lebanese Pounds for 6 hours of work in Lebanon.
-Syrian women and cleaning jobs-
Some Syrian women are being forced to work in cleaning houses where one of them earns a wage ranging between 1500-1000 Syrian Pounds inside Syria for one day according to the size of the house. For the same job in Lebanon, Syrian women earn a wage of approximate 40 thousand Lebanese Pounds for one day’s work.
Syrian women roam governmental offices in Syria to clean bureaucrats’ desks and earn 100 Syrian pounds from each employee who allows her to clean and re-arrange their desk.
It was recently noticed that Syrian women are being hired in governmental offices with wages of approximately 18 thousand Syrian Pounds, with the possibility of increase with each promotion and job seniority, or as employee for public health centers, dispensaries, clinics, and hospitals.
And Syrian women today work in cleaning cafeterias and shawarma shops inside Syria and earn an average wage of 300 Syrian Pounds per hour.
-Traveling saleswoman and stall salespersons-
It is also noticeable today that Syrian women have entered work domains that have traditionally be monopolized by men such as coffee street sellers, in a rare phenomenon on Syrian streets where the price of a cup of coffee is 50 Syrian Pounds. Some women are also selling soft drinks, ice creams, and tobacco on the streets.
Syrian women are also standing at road sides to wash and clean cars for customers and they are paid random fees based on the customer’s whim.
This phenomenon appears also on Lebanese streets, and below is an image of one of the Syrian women selling tissue papers in al-Raouche Beirut.
-Working as sales assistants in shops-
The favored work opportunity and favorite that Syrian girls find appropriate, but is insufficient to pay the growing costs and the accumulated needs- is working in clothing, shoes, accessory shops, and pastry shops, but she earns a monthly wage that ranges between 12000-8000 Syrian Pounds according to the shop’s location inside Syria, and this is a low wage.
On the other hand, for the same labor she earns between 400-500 Lebanese Pounds in Lebanon based on the area and the name of the shop.
The governmental offices with a feminine flavor, harassment, and extortion
When you enter government offices in Syria you notice that most of the employees are women and some are men over the age of 42.
One of the results of women working is that they become more exposed to extortion and harassment from members of the National Defense and those wearing “camouflaged outfits” in Syria. Also from some weak spirited Lebanese and many other examples.
As an example of the psychological damage and contempt, in one park in Lebanon a Syrian woman with three girls took her daughters to play in the park and there a Lebanese girl gave her a contemptuous and humiliating look and told her, “refugees and hungry and you are having children.”
It was one of the truths and felt realities that are lived in all the streets whether in Syria or Lebanon. So where are the humanitarian organizations and where are organizations defending women’s rights in Syrian women’s realities today?
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