The Life Phases of a Yemeni Woman
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THE LIFE PHASES OF A YEMENI WOMAN By Marta Colburn Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies March 10, 2021 The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies is an independent think-tank that seeks to foster change through knowledge production with a focus on Yemen and the surrounding region. The Center’s publications and programs, offered in both Arabic and English, cover political, social, economic and security related developments, aiming to impact policy locally, regionally, and internationally. COPYRIGHT © SANA´A CENTER 2021 THE LIFE PHASES OF A YEMENI WOMAN By Marta Colburn Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies March 10, 2021 Cover photo: Spectators watch a performance of traditional dancing and music, in Ataq, Shabwa governorate, on November 12, 2020 // Photo credit: Sam Tarling/Sana’a Center EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This study examines the diversity of experiences of women and girls in Yemen, who face differing gender dynamics and challenges at various stages in their lives. It explores age- specific issues during five phases of life for girls and women in the following categories: • Birth, Infancy and Childhood (0-9 years of age); • Puberty and Adolescence (10-17 years of age); • Youth (18-29 years of age); • Middle Age (30-49 years of age); • The Twilight Years (50+ years of age). This study looks at underlying gender dynamics and cultural, social, political and economic challenges at each phase, as well as noting salient changes in the context of the war and the massive humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Proverbs are presented in each section to illustrate commonly encountered attitudes and beliefs about women at various stages in their life, which reflect complexities in Yemeni society and encompass contradictory ideas and norms.[1] Each section also includes profiles which are composites of real women and girls whom the author has encountered over decades of living, working and conducting research in Yemen. The study seeks to present information that can contribute to gender- sensitive programming in Yemen. The final section includes recommendations for each age category addressing key issues examined in the study. Findings and Recommendations The following table presents findings from this study and recommendations organized by age group. These offer guidance for donors and those implementing programs to better address the needs of girls and women. 1) The Yemeni proverbs presented in this study were gathered from diverse sources over the decades including during the research conducted for A Situation Analysis of Gender and Development in Yemen (2002, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and Oxfam, Amman Jordan). Additionally, some proverbs were compiled by Majda Al-Haddad from Ibb (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=sDf-7_kCPi8) and translated by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. THE LIFE PHASES OF A YEMENI WOMAN Findings Recommendations BIRTH, INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD (0-9 years of age) 1 With the conflict, school enrollment rates It is suggested that efforts to improve girls’ have deteriorated for all children, including enrollment seek community and family girls. Education is critical to addressing a support to provide incentives for female wide range of gender issues. In the current teachers, engage mothers and fathers crisis the government and local authorities in awareness raising efforts about girls’ face challenges to maintain the functioning education and emphasize that education for of the education system. girls can contribute to better employment and income earning opportunities. 2 Corporal punishment of children is a In more stable areas of the country, consider challenge both in the home and in school. piloting an awareness raising campaign This phenomenon negatively impacts the combatting corporal punishment, potentially emotional and educational development of as part of a broader social cohesion initiative children. addressing conflict dynamics and the increase in violence in schools. PUBERTY AND ADOLESCENCE (10-17 years of age) 3 Cultural gender beliefs in Yemen (i.e. Organize tandem workshops for young women being categorized as du’afa, the women and their maharim to: magnify the potential for fitna and conceptions of family impact of training; foster changes in family honor) shape ‘protective’ practices designed gender dynamics; and support women’s to shelter girls and women. careers, as well as contribute to employment readiness for young men. 4 Child marriage has been a challenging issue Seek to implement interventions to improve in Yemen for decades, but since 2015 it is income-earning capacities and skills with believed to have increased significantly girls at risk and survivors of child marriage as a negative coping strategy for destitute and other forms of gender-based violence, families to mitigate economic vulnerability mixed with other categories of vulnerable and insecurity. women (to mitigate against stigmatizing individuals), folded into broader economic empowerment activities. YOUTH (18-29 years of age) 5 Entrepreneurship and resilience are It is suggested to conduct low profile research hallmarks of Yemeni culture and have among female entrepreneurs to provide mitigated the devastating impact of the strategic insights. Microfinance and income- current crisis, with women playing an active generating activities for women should seek role, particularly in urban areas, though to build self-confidence, negotiating skills humanitarian and development efforts and creative problem solving. Explore ways seeking to improve income earning often for such activities with vulnerable women to reinforce gender roles. engage men in the family. 5 THE LIFE PHASES OF A YEMENI WOMAN Findings Recommendations 6 A positive development observed has been Consider launching a broad public campaign that with increasing economic activity that highlights the positive contributions among women there is now growing social of women during the conflict, seeks to acceptance of such activities, which may impact the public discourse on gender and signify more enduring changes to gender celebrates the positive roles of both men norms. It is unclear if such changes are and women during the crisis. The campaign temporary in nature. could engage public opinion influencers such as imams, tribal leaders and media figures. MIDDLE AGE (30-49 years of age) 7 The lack of affordable female-friendly Options to explore in urban areas could transportation options in rural and urban include: mobile phone taxi apps in cities settings exacerbates gender disparities (similar to Kareem or Uber); transportation in accessing services and existing gender vouchers for vulnerable women; and biases. women-driven taxis. Outside of cities options could include motorcycles operated by women, and hybrid taxis. 8 Yemeni women’s experiences and gender It is suggested that gender analysis is dynamics are diverse; humanitarian integrated into all project phases, with response efforts too often prioritize meaningful input from qualified local quick impact activities, thus potentially gender specialists. Support local academic harming the elderly, disabled and socially and civil society activities to build additional marginalized groups, including girls and capacity in the area of gender analysis to women. improve gender-sensitive programming. THE TWILIGHT YEARS (50+ years of age) 9 Despite the depth of the crisis in the Consider supporting research on sources of country, Yemenis demonstrate high resilience in the Yemen context, examining levels of resilience, both at the individual how social solidarity works in specific areas and communal level. Support networks and exploring the role of women in resilience. contribute to resilience and women play a Additionally, small scale research initiatives significant role in building and maintaining can explore resilience factors among social solidarity through various practices. women to help inform interventions that will sustain and not damage such elements. 10 The elderly, with a preponderance of Ensure that distribution sites accommodate older women, and the disabled, often the needs of the physically vulnerable face challenges in collecting food rations such as elderly women. Engage third and other aid. Such challenges lead to party monitoring entities to assess if such a reduction in assistance, as vulnerable practices are in place. If such distribution beneficiaries often have to give a portion arrangements prove too complex, those with of their ration to others for collection and mobility issues could be provided additional transportation. rations or cash to cover transportation costs. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ................................................................................... 5 Findings and Recommendations ........................................................................... 5 Acronyms ................................................................................................. 10 I. Introduction: Broader Context of Gender Dynamics for Women .............12 An Urban-Rural Divide ........................................................................................ 15 II. Birth, Infancy and Childhood (0-9 years): Gender Dynamics Emerge ..............19 Gender Roles Among Siblings ........................................................................................................21 For Some Children, Violence in the Home and at School ............................................................23 Changes in the Current Crisis .............................................................................