Gender in crisis : Syrian refugee women in the Netherlands

Gender in our lives is like the air. It surrounds us, we breathe it, but we do not necessarily think of it or visualize it. We construct and reconstruct gendered identities and views in our everyday social interactions which change as our circumstances change. Gender identities and roles of Syrians have been influenced in different ways by the current war in Syria. The current war, which commenced in 2011, has left a noticeable impact on the Syrian society and the life of every Syrian; whether women or men, children or adults, inside or outside of Syria. This impact has touched all aspects of life from politics to the bread we eat. Syrian women displaced outside of Syria have experienced in some way or another changes in their gender identities and roles. This paper will shed light on some of these changes through the experiences of Syrian women mainly living in The Netherlands, where the research in preparation for this paper took place. The research took a form of individual interviews, observation and group discussions. Theoretical concepts of gender, public/private, patriarchy, and intersectionality will be used as tools to analyse the experiences of female Syrian women refugees.