Life is becoming more tough for the Lebanese women along with the aggravation of the economic crisis and economic violence that affected them during this plight. Women started to look for private safe spaces and productive economic projects, in order to achieve a kind of financial independence. Starting from cultural and sport projects to the field of cooking, women have taken many initiatives in remote areas. Moreover, the sport breathing space is limited to men, especially in Lebanon’s remote areas.
Some local authorities don’t pay attention to women’s needs and the importance of involving them in social or economic action in some municipalities, cities and remote villages. That’s why many women-led initiatives are active at different levels. Some women try to raise their voice to say that “they exist and are productive in terms of economy, culture, society and sport.”
Building on the word “Mayli”, which is an invitation to drink coffee among neighbors, a group of women in the city of Baalbek established the women’s library and coffee shop “Mayli” to create a comfortable place, so that women and girls can use it to study, work, entertain and chat.
The young girl Mohad Haidar (28 years old) didn’t expect that the announcement of launching the library and coffee shop “Mayli” would resonate very well on social media through welcoming and encouragement letters, and book donations for the library that announced receiving contributions of feminist and cultural books. Haidar said that the first goal was to create a safe space for Baalbek’s women to be a station or gathering for discussion and recreation by drinking coffee and other drinks, without being breached by the region’s males, whether the harassers or those who interfere in women’s life and determine their choices. In most cases, women in Baalbek and other areas are subject to paternal and family authority.
Launching the library and coffee shop irritated some people in the city. Curators of “Mayli” were accused of gender discrimination, since the place was dedicated for women. That’s why Haidar said that spaces in Baalbek were limited to men, such as the streets, squares, markets, shops, home and some men coffee shops. Although there may be some places for women, those women will be the center of attention of all people in terms of their behavior and discussion. The idea of “Mayli” holds out a breakthrough for the priority of creating spaces for women to gather and make their own identity.
Moreover, the announcement on launching the coffee shop and library was accompanied by an electronic attack through fake accounts on the coffee shop’s Instagram page, in an attempt to disturb the activity of women. Haidar pointed out that “the goal of ‘Mayli’ is not to be provocative in the area, and that is available for women from different social, religious and political belongings. It is not an attempt to imply feminist slogans that scare some people, but a space for women to be themselves away from the eyes of harassers, and be a room for sharing experience and participatory knowledge with them.” The coffee shop will work according to women’s wishes. If they want to learn the profession of knitting and needlework, any lady may volunteer to teach the ladies this craft and other activities that they wish to do. The goal is not only cultural, but this is also a place for comfort and recreation.
Searching for public spaces is not limited to meeting and gathering, but also extends to practicing some sport in Lebanese remote areas. Alaa Abdul Baqi (21 years old), a resident of Joub Jannine village in Beqaa, was able to form a basketball sport team and train it on weekly basis.
The story of Alaa started since she played football at her school. In her teens, her sport teacher directed her to have basketball training since it is more recommended for girls. Alaa’s family didn’t like that she was involved in sport games, “since these are boy games. They named her a tomboy to point out to the masculinity of the game.” Alaa’s passion for sport and the lack of girls to play with her in her teens led her to face harassment from her relatives and family who asked her to stop playing and focus on her education. But she didn’t give ear to them. Since one year and a half, Alaa is training the girls of her village. She is also involved in the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (RDFL), which provided her with support and logistics to develop her work. “Women in Beqaa areas don’t have any breathing space. My sport team joined girls not due to their passion for sport only, but since it is a space to discharge their energy, share their concerns and problems, and discuss solutions that they might find.”
The women team which trains in the village’s playing field is subject to some harassment, since the court is for public and cannot be rented. When the boys wait for their turn to play, they say mocking comments: “It’s obvious that you don’t know how to play, and you don’t have championships.” However, this matter doesn’t prevent them from continuing their passion for sport games. Alaa receives a lot of positive comments since she is changing the habits of girls who train with her, mainly their ability to pay attention to their hobbies and find a space for gathering. Many girls even placed a hoop to play at home to continue training constantly. The biggest dream of Alaa, who seeks through her feminist and sport activity to change the existing mentality in the area, where sport activities are limited to men, is to create a sport academy in the area and train all age groups. But ironically, the university specialty of Alaa is a far cry from her hobbies, as she is still studying mathematics.
In the Southern city Bint Jbeil, Fatima Makki, didn’t imagine herself going out from home to work, especially that her husband refused the idea. However, since the economic crisis in 2019 and the slowdown in her husband’s job, her engagement in work became necessary to meet their daily needs and provide treatment for her only son.
The city’s cooperative society “El Zawde” was the only resort for Fatima to work, produce, sell and promote local supplies. The cooperative was established by Ghada Bazzi in collaboration with many women in 2007 with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to ensure job opportunities for women and make them productive at the economic level. Fatima said: “Working at the cooperative allowed her to have a chance to access courses of cooking and local production. The society has a large business market that relies on emigrants. It managed to participate in many rural product exhibitions in the capital. The cooperative also expanded Fatima’s horizon and proved her productive role in life.” Moreover, Fatima said: “The women’s teamwork is similar to a family society that depends on cooperation, sharing, solving problems and mitigating the pressure faced by women.” However, the society’s founder Ghada Bazzi said that the society was able to sell the products in the area and created an economic cycle characterized by organic production away from using chemicals in agriculture and production. This is what distinguishes the society’s work, and has also created a market to sell products, especially for emigrants.
The Corona virus led the young girl Souhad Hamiyeh (33 years old) from Kfarhatta, South Lebanon, to leave her job and become unemployed. Therefore, she looked for an alternative job. As businesses were closed, she exploited having a car to announce that she would be a delivery driver in the village to pick up the residents who don’t afford a car to their desired destination. She provides the needs of the village’s women. Souhad’ activity resonated positively in the village, since she was the first girl to work in this profession and was a beloved character in the village. Souhad said that every woman must have her financial independence and that there was no shame in the profession she may choose, since she would be improving her character and determination in the society. Souhad receives positive comments from her clients, as she is fast in meeting their needs without forgetting and due to her sense of responsibility.
This means is the safe resort for the village’s girls transport without being harassed or verbally assaulted. Souhad says that her car is similar to a confidante, since she was able to create many friendships with the village’s residents, especially the girls. They started to share discussions and problems and what they were facing.
Moreover, the children of the village like to go with her. Whenever they see her somewhere, they run to hug her since they love her.
In the village of Baakline, Chouf, Nadia Bou Matar transformed her profession of teaching English into a sweet shop and factory named “The English Teacher Bakes”. She inspired the name from her main work and her dream of turning the cooking world and sweets into a laboratory or a kitchen for sweets. Bou Matar started her job six years ago by promoting her activity online. Her activity was limited to Baakline and the neighboring area. She managed to attract local clients who prefer homemade food. In her job, she doesn’t rely on purchasing any item from the supermarket. She prepares all the ingredients of cakes by herself without resorting to canned food including preservatives unlike the shops of ready sweets. After six years of work in the Chouf area, Bou Matar decided to open her shop in Saifi area in Beirut, as her clients increased as a result of her online marketing. The future goal of Bou Matar is to expand her business in Lebanon and abroad. Moreover, Bou Matar said that her work provided her with more independence, since there was no employer managing her business, and she was fully responsible of her job.
The conditions and capacities of every woman are multiple across the Lebanese regions. However, the women of rural areas are deploying more efforts to prove themselves, achieve their financial and social independence, and try to change the stereotype affecting women, which is being vulnerable and subject to the masculine paternal system.