The Impact of House Demolitions on Gender Roles and Relations “We will come back to build in the same place, we are here and we will stay here” Prepared by: Hanan Abu Ghosh for The Women’s Affairs Technical Committee – Ramallah 2014 1 Main Office: Radio Street, Awad Bldg. 2nd floor P.O.Box 2197 Ramallah, Palestine. Tel: +972 2987784/ Telefax: +972 2986497/ Fax: +972 2964746 Web-site: www.watcpal.org/ Email: [email protected] Gaza Office: Gaza- West roundabout Abu Mazen, Amman St., beside Beirut Building P.O.Box 5008 Palestine, Tel: 082644322/ Fax: 082636088 Issued by: Women’s Affairs Technical Committee – Ramallah 2 Index Foreword .................................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Moral Standards ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Limits of the Study ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Obstacles of the Study ............................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1: Literature Review ..................................................................................................................... 12 1.1 The right to adequate housing .................................................................................................................... 12 1.2 Forced internal displacement ...................................................................................................................... 12 1.3 The impact of conflict and forced internal displacement on women and gender roles .................. 13 1.4 The impact of displacement and houses demolition on families ......................................................... 13 1.5 The significance of “home” for Palestinian women .................................................................................. 14 1.6 Impact of house demolitions on women .................................................................................................. 14 1.7 Displacement and gender based violence ............................................................................................... 14 1.8 Internal displacement and women’s coping mechanisms .................................................................... 14 1.9 Accessing relief assistance ........................................................................................................................... 15 1.10 Strategies to combat violence against women ..................................................................................... 15 1.11 Women’s relationship to aid organizations and programs ................................................................. 15 Chapter 2: Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 16 2.1 Consequences of House Demolition .......................................................................................................... 16 2.1.1 The consequences of house demolition ................................................................................................................. 16 2.1.2 Prior notice of impending house demolition ....................................................................................................... 18 2.1.3 Retrieving belongings .................................................................................................................................................... 18 2.1.4 Reactions to house demolition .................................................................................................................................. 18 2.2 Impact of House Demolition on Gender Roles ........................................................................................ 20 2.2.1 Men and women’s reproductive roles ..................................................................................................................... 20 2.2.2 Men and women’s productive roles ......................................................................................................................... 21 2.2.3 Men and women’s political and social roles .......................................................................................................... 21 2.3 Impact of House Demolition on Familial and Community Relationships ........................................... 22 2.3.1 Familial relationships ..................................................................................................................................................... 22 2.3.2 Decision-making dynamics ......................................................................................................................................... 23 2.3.3 Community relationships ............................................................................................................................................ 24 2.3.4 Economic impact ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 2.3.5 Impact on education ......................................................................................................................................................... 25 2.3.6 Psychological impact ........................................................................................................................................................ 26 2.3.7 Impact on the occurrence of domestic violence ..................................................................................................... 26 2.3.8 Impact on the occurrence of emigration .................................................................................................................... 27 27 2.4 Sources of Institutional Support .................................................................................................................. 2.4.1 Relationship with human rights organizations ....................................................................................................... 27 2.4.2 Relationship with media institutions .......................................................................................................................... 27 2.4.3 Relationship with psychological organizations ....................................................................................................... 28 2.4.4 Relationship with relief organizations ........................................................................................................................ 28 28 2.5 Odds and Ends .................................................................................................................................................. 2.5.1 Values women seek to convey to future generations ........................................................................................... 29 2.5.2 Perceptions of the future ................................................................................................................................................. 29 2.5.3 Planning for the future ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 2.5.4 Participants’ concluding thoughts ............................................................................................................................... 30 30 Chapter 3: Findings and Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 3.1 Data analysis and previous studies ............................................................................................................... 31 3.2 Study Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 31 3.3 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................... 32 3.4 Final Recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 33 34 Chapter 4: Annexes ....................................................................................................................................... 4.1 Focus groups guidelines & questions ............................................................................................................ 35 4.2 Interview questions .......................................................................................................................................... 35 4.3 Questionnaire .................................................................................................................................................... 36 39 References ....................................................................................................................................................