Women in Development and Peace – Hebah Mohammed
The rural woman in Yemen is one of the most affected and resilient categories facing difficulties in her daily life. She is forced to confront numerous obstacles, living in harsh conditions and under multiple pressures. Her life is filled with challenges, where she experiences marginalization, discrimination, and continuous violence. These women find themselves trapped in a painful journey that restricts their movement and deprives them of participating in various aspects of life. Their lives oscillate between resilience and suffering, encompassing significant physical and psychological challenges that seem never-ending.
Rural Yemeni Women: Balancing Poverty and Multiple Responsibilities
Rural women encounter various forms of violence, ranging from physical and psychological abuse to discrimination and marginalization in society and the job market. Despite their strong will and endurance, they silently suffer, living amidst pains that often go unnoticed by many.
Shadia Al-Arasi, one of the rural women in Aras subdistrict, Yarim Directorate, Ibb Governorate, says: “Like other Yemeni women, rural women face societal violence. They endure a bitter reality over many years, within beliefs that often ignore the harshness of their lives in rural areas. The deteriorating economic situation in many rural households, coupled with widespread poverty, exacerbates this situation. Consequently, rural women bear the burden of confronting the specters of poverty and violence.”
Shadia has established several development projects in her district, contributing to alleviating the hardships faced by rural women. She speaks about the reality of Yemeni women in rural areas: “Silently, rural women struggle and fight against the harshness of life and challenging circumstances. With each morning sun, they rise early to prepare food for their children and husbands. Then, they head to the livestock barns to care for the animals, traverse agricultural lands, meticulously water plants, and tend to fruits. They recognize that agriculture is their sole source of livelihood and sustenance for their families. Finally, they return home to continue their daily tasks.”
Al-Arasi explains that rural women are the central axis of rural life in Yemen. Everyone relies on them for most essential tasks. They bear the responsibility of raising livestock and poultry, tending to agriculture, and providing food and clothing for their families.
Shadia continues: “Rural women persistently journey through days, months, and years, enduring harsh and laborious lives. They face the challenges of severe weather, resource scarcity, and limited basic services. Despite experiencing discrimination and injustice, they remain strong and resilient, believing in the value of their work and their role in community building.”
Shadia Al-Arasi points out that poverty and difficult living conditions are the primary factors that have ensnared rural women in a cycle of violence and struggle. These conditions have led to psychological and physical issues in their frail bodies, and tragically, many young girls in their prime have resorted to suicide due to the violence-ridden, unstable rural life.
According to Al-Arasi, 95% of rural women urgently need health protection, nutrition, and safety. In the rural culture, women are often reduced to mere servants for men, devoid of human and social rights. They surrender to the targeted violence that has become an integral part of their daily lives, with relevant authorities failing to halt this injustice faced by rural women.
Al-Arasi laments the reality of rural women, describing it as a life filled with difficulties and devoid of even the most basic recognized rights. Despite the efforts of local and international women’s organizations advocating against violence, she asserts that these endeavors are insufficient. Rural women require genuine efforts and continuous support to stand with them and eradicate the various injustices they face.
According to the Economic Bulletin of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, as of April 2021, the poverty rate among households led by women in rural areas reached 72%, while the poverty rate among households led by women in urban areas was approximately 20.1%.
Rural Women & Domestic Violence
Discussing the reality of rural women in one of Yemen’s villages, Haifa Al-Shuwaie, one of the rural women in the Al-Saddah district of Thuloth Market village in Ibb Governorate, shares: “Rural women in the subdistrict of Wadi Al-Hajjaj in Thuloth Market village suffer from challenging psychological conditions due to the harsh circumstances they endure. The mental and physical health of women in the region has deteriorated because of poverty, leading to the overall decline in living conditions.”
She continues: “Hard work and difficult living conditions significantly impact the health of rural women, especially pregnant women who face health problems. For instance, repeated miscarriages occur due to carrying heavy loads, endangering the lives of fetuses. Swollen feet result from fetching water from distant areas outside the village. Additionally, carrying heavy objects on their heads leads to back and neck pain.”
Haifa Al-Shuwaie highlights several aspects of domestic violence faced by women. For example, rural women begin their day before dawn, carrying fifty liters of water on their heads multiple times to provide for their households. They also experience sexual violence, with men assaulting their wives regardless of their health conditions. Furthermore, they endure physical violence from family heads and their own children, often driven by economic and social pressures. Tragically, this has led to repeated cases of suicide in the region.
Haifa Al-Shuwaie highlights the various forms of violence against rural women, including their deprivation of education and forced early marriages without conditions. These circumstances adversely affect their mental health and hinder the realization of their aspirations. Despite being targets of such directed violence, rural women remain remarkable, resilient, and productive. They shoulder responsibilities in agriculture, livestock rearing, and family care, contributing to increased household income through their continuous efforts in rural work.
Emphasizing the necessity of implementing a water project that meets the village’s needs, Haifa advocates for economic development to support livestock breeding. She also calls for targeted sewing programs for rural women. Successful projects in other rural areas have significantly alleviated the violence faced by women.
Khawla Al-Sharafi, Chair of the National Women’s Committee in Ibb Governorate, adds: “Rural women generally suffer from violence, manifested in various aspects. Basic services across different domains, such as healthcare, education, and justice, are lacking. Often, they work day and night without pay, fulfilling household tasks, caring for children, and meeting household needs, including fetching water and collecting firewood from distant places.”
She added: “Rural women still face violence related to agriculture. They are often exploited in land cultivation and labor-intensive tasks, which are particularly challenging for women. Unfortunately, they lack the right to control the selling and pricing processes. Consequently, they find themselves working tirelessly, sacrificing their economic, health, and even psychological rights”.
Challenges Faced by Rural Women
Al-Arasi further explains that rural women face numerous challenges stemming from pressures within their families and communities. Discrimination and differentiation between females and males persist in rural environments. These women are often considered weak and incapable of contributing as much as men. They remain confined to limited traditional roles, restricting their mobility and opportunities for development and success.
Additionally, Al-Arasi highlights that rural women experience inheritance deprivation. Male children receive larger shares of property and wealth than what religious guidelines dictate, exacerbating the gender gap within rural communities.
She also emphasized that women bear full responsibility for managing the household and agricultural land, especially when the head of the family in rural environments is forced to seek work or migrate abroad. This further increases their burden in meeting family needs and sustaining daily life. These pressures often hinder them from exploring other opportunities for self-development, such as education or employment.
Furthermore, Haifa Al-Shuwaie pointed out that limited health awareness and educational opportunities pose additional challenges for rural women. Due to the daily struggles and lack of access to healthcare and education, women in rural environments suffer from incomplete knowledge and awareness about health and recent developments. This negatively impacts their overall health and opportunities for advancement
Culture of Denial & Marginalization
In Yemeni society, especially in rural areas, a culture of denial and marginalization still persists, suppressing the existence of women and restricting their expression of opinions. This culture contributes to high illiteracy rates and ignorance among women. It also reinforces restrictive customs and traditions that diminish women’s value in their own eyes and in the eyes of others.
Khawla Al-Azzi, a writer and social researcher, points out that rural upbringing often leads men to believe they know what is best for women. Consequently, they exert control over them, depriving them of decision-making rights and limiting their role in building a society based on equal and fair participation—a role that has become increasingly absent.
Al-Azzi believes that empowering and educating rural women are essential keys to achieving gender equality in rural communities and combating violence. Educating rural women about their rights across various domains and involving them actively in decision-making processes are crucial steps.
Collaborative efforts with all stakeholders are necessary to enable women to exercise their rights independently and without male dominance. Promoting women’s education, strengthening their capacities, and fostering a culture of gender equality are fundamental for building a society that thrives on equal participation in all aspects of life.
Recommendations
Violence against rural women in Yemen is a serious problem that demands urgent attention and intervention. Millions of women in Yemen’s rural areas face multiple challenges and violence that threatens their human rights and dignity. Swift action is necessary to protect and support rural women, providing suitable conditions for a dignified and safe life.
Khawla Al-Sharafi recommends the following steps:
Improve Legislation: Enhance laws related to violence against rural women in Yemen. Ensure strict enforcement and impose deterrent penalties on offenders.
Effective Mechanisms for Justice: Establish effective mechanisms to deliver justice to victims. This includes creating safe spaces, counseling centers, and specialized security patrols for women in rural areas.
Comprehensive Programs: Develop comprehensive programs that support and protect rural women from violence.
Awareness Campaigns: Raise awareness within the community about the types of violence rural women may face and their negative impact. Educational campaigns can target local and rural communities.
Furthermore, it is essential to enhance educational opportunities for rural women and provide economic empowerment programs. These programs should include vocational training, financial support, and practical employment opportunities. Additionally, supporting leadership programs and enabling rural women to actively participate in political and economic activities are crucial.
Khawla Al-Sharafi emphasizes the need for conducting further research and studies to gain a deeper understanding of the scale and forms of violence against rural women in Yemen. Relevant authorities must monitor the current situation and evaluate policies and programs that address rural women’s issues. She also recommends taking serious action to address the direct causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, ensuring access to sufficient food and improving living standards in rural life.