RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Sanaa al-Mousa, 33, could not imagine that she would be able to work some day and find a job after her failure of finding any job opportunity with her family’s rejection of the idea of leaving the house for work.
Al-Mousa, a resident of Raqqa, was forced to work a year ago in one of the institutions of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), in order to be able to cover her studies, but it was difficult for her due to the long working hours.
Her family and the lack of job opportunities were not real obstacles for al-Mousa compared to the restrictions of the customs and traditions inherited in the region, as well as the prevailing tribal mind-set there.
Tribal mind-set prohibits women and girls to work due to restrictions and norms related to the local society but the difficult living conditions and displacement have contributed to some transgressions.
Al-Mousa needs to be more open and social during her work, “which is something I did not use to,” she said.
Women in Raqqa live in a tribal society characterized with inherited customs and traditions which negatively affect them and their work in different sectors. These customs consider the women’s work as a “shameful” act.
The idea of women working in a tribal society is “unacceptable”, with some exceptions including education and teaching, but today there is more openness among families to allow women to work in different sectors.
Israa al-Ahmad, 26, works in one of the laboratories near her house after gaining some experience in doing medical tests when she worked in the same laboratory as a receptionist.
Al-Ahmad leaves for work at 8:00 am and returns at 4:00. In case she is late for some reasons, she will face accountability by her father.
Despite the long hours work, al-Ahmad said her work is her only joy. She was married at the age of 16, and divorced shortly thereafter.
“I cannot stay at home idly by while my family and neighbors look at me as a divorced,” she added, “According to tradition, divorced women are useless and are a burden on society.”
The woman is still struggling to stay at work, even though her father urges her to leave it claiming that it is shameful for a female to work or go out and be seen by others.
“They are just outdated ideas and traditions they have become accustomed to since they were young and passed down through generations,” but for her and other women they are just restrictions that force them to obey and listen “whether they like them or not,” al-Ahmad noted.
Zina al-Ali said that although the Islamic State (ISIS) was expelled from the region, some men here still believe in imposing the niqab on the women.
Al-Ali works in a clothing shop to help her husband in supporting the family and cover its needs, but she is forced to wear the niqab when leaving the house, “as my husband asked me.”
She is forced to do what she is asked, as she said, because she needs to work to cover her family’s needs, since her husband is unable to do so, “my husband gave me the permission to work on the condition of putting niqab.
“Unfortunately, these customs and traditions are stifling at times. They [society] believe that they are right, and that these outdated traditions should not be objected,” she concluded.