David Brunetti Photography
Ameera | Shattered Pieces of a Homeland
Ameera
Syrian women refugees are exposed to sexual harassment more than Lebanese women simply because of their status as refugees, which is associated with economic vulnerability. Indeed, many of the Syrian women refugees mentioned that this stigmatisation and harassment is making their husbands and families overly protective, limiting their mobility. In some cases, ensuing family tensions appear to have led to domestic violence.
When Ameera first came to the centre, she always worried about people knowing she is a widow. She asked her neighbours to warn her if they see anyone hanging around. “Men often knock on our door and pretend they work with Islamic aid agencies,” she says. She does not answer. Sometimes she calls out, ‘Brother, please check who’s at the door!’ to trick visitors when she’s alone. She lived in perpetual fear of harassment.
“It is difficult to be both the mother and the father at once,” she explained, smiling modestly; her husband is died almost two years ago in Syria. Ameera describes her how loving and caring her relationship with her husband was. “My husband and I have been married for thirteen years and we were very much in love. But he’s been taken away from me.” Ameera and her three children now share a small flat in an unfinished building with her brother and his in-laws. Their house is small, cold, damp and overflowing with people. “There is no privacy at home.”
“For a long time, I was very sad. I missed my husband. I was very pale, and had lost a lot of weight” say Ameera about the time before she accessed services at the women’s centre. After the loss of her husband and home, Ameera became depressed and increasingly withdrawn. At the centre, she received counselling to help her cope with her bereavement. Here, Ameera regained her confidence, and attended therapy and drama therapy sessions. She learned to express herself and talk about her feelings of loss and anxiety. She says of herself that she feels like a new person. “Those close to me, my son and my friends, cannot believe how much I’ve changed. I used to wear black everyday, now I like to wear colours again. And I smile more.”
“Before I came to the centre, I didn’t know about the different forms of violence against women. I didn’t know it could happen within a family, too. My husband and I were happy, though we got married when I was very young. But after he died I was unhappy, and my family was very controlling. Now, I stand up for myself. And I feel strong enough to talk about my experience. Here, I met my best friend. I learn new skills – I even take English classes – that will help me find work. It’s my dream to have my own place just for my son and me.”
Ameera | Shattered Pieces of a Homeland
Ameera
Syrian women refugees are exposed to sexual harassment more than Lebanese women simply because of their status as refugees, which is associated with economic vulnerability. Indeed, many of the Syrian women refugees mentioned that this stigmatisation and harassment is making their husbands and families overly protective, limiting their mobility. In some cases, ensuing family tensions appear to have led to domestic violence.
When Ameera first came to the centre, she always worried about people knowing she is a widow. She asked her neighbours to warn her if they see anyone hanging around. “Men often knock on our door and pretend they work with Islamic aid agencies,” she says. She does not answer. Sometimes she calls out, ‘Brother, please check who’s at the door!’ to trick visitors when she’s alone. She lived in perpetual fear of harassment.
“It is difficult to be both the mother and the father at once,” she explained, smiling modestly; her husband is died almost two years ago in Syria. Ameera describes her how loving and caring her relationship with her husband was. “My husband and I have been married for thirteen years and we were very much in love. But he’s been taken away from me.” Ameera and her three children now share a small flat in an unfinished building with her brother and his in-laws. Their house is small, cold, damp and overflowing with people. “There is no privacy at home.”
“For a long time, I was very sad. I missed my husband. I was very pale, and had lost a lot of weight” say Ameera about the time before she accessed services at the women’s centre. After the loss of her husband and home, Ameera became depressed and increasingly withdrawn. At the centre, she received counselling to help her cope with her bereavement. Here, Ameera regained her confidence, and attended therapy and drama therapy sessions. She learned to express herself and talk about her feelings of loss and anxiety. She says of herself that she feels like a new person. “Those close to me, my son and my friends, cannot believe how much I’ve changed. I used to wear black everyday, now I like to wear colours again. And I smile more.”
“Before I came to the centre, I didn’t know about the different forms of violence against women. I didn’t know it could happen within a family, too. My husband and I were happy, though we got married when I was very young. But after he died I was unhappy, and my family was very controlling. Now, I stand up for myself. And I feel strong enough to talk about my experience. Here, I met my best friend. I learn new skills – I even take English classes – that will help me find work. It’s my dream to have my own place just for my son and me.”