Yasmine Abdulhafeez – Women in Development and Peace
Difficult living conditions and ongoing conflicts in Yemen have driven large numbers of Yemeni families to forced migration in search of safety and a better life. Countries such as Europe, America, the Arabian Gulf, Egypt, and Jordan have witnessed the arrival of many Yemeni migrants who have integrated into their new communities.
Yemeni emigration abroad has increased significantly in recent years, driven by the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. Unofficial estimates indicate that about one million Yemenis, including residents and refugees, are in Egypt, and three million are in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including workers, residents, and refugees. Thousands of Yemenis have also fled to Canada to escape conflict and poverty, with nearly eight thousand Yemenis currently living there.
The United States of America, along with Britain and Germany, has become a haven for many Yemenis fleeing the hell of conflict and violence. Despair is driving thousands of Yemenis to migrate in search of a decent life away from the conflict that has been raging in the country since 2015. The deteriorating economic conditions and repeated human rights violations against Yemenis are also pushing them to seek better job opportunities and a more stable life.
Adapting to the Host Country’s Culture
Yemeni customs and traditions greatly influence the lives of Yemeni women abroad. They carry with them to their host countries a rich cultural heritage that forms an integral part of their identity. However, they face a different reality that clashes with Yemeni customs and traditions. This impact can be both positive and negative and varies depending on each woman’s personal and social circumstances.
One of the positive effects of Yemeni customs and traditions on the lives of Yemeni women abroad is the preservation of their Yemeni identity. These customs and traditions help maintain their national identity and strengthen their sense of belonging to the Yemeni community. Furthermore, these customs and traditions provide a supportive social framework for Yemeni women in their new homes, enabling them to connect with other women who share their culture and values. Yemeni women also play a vital role in passing down these customs and traditions to their children, which helps preserve Yemeni heritage in the diaspora and fosters positive relationships with host communities through cultural exchange.
However, Yemeni customs and traditions can also have negative effects on the lives of Yemeni women abroad, primarily due to the difficulties of adapting to new cultural norms. Yemeni women may find it challenging to adjust to the different cultures of their host countries, especially if these cultures clash with their customs and traditions. This can lead to feelings of social isolation, particularly if there isn’t a large Yemeni community in their new location.
Sahar Ahmad (pseudonym) experienced this clash of identities firsthand in Tunisia. A young Yemeni woman who migrated to Tunisia for studies in 2018, experienced culture shock when she faced curious stares due to her adherence to conservative clothing (Burqa and Abaya).
Sahar encountered numerous challenges in adapting to her host country’s culture, caught between her deeply rooted identity and the difficulties of daily life. While determined to maintain her traditional attire in her new environment, she began to feel isolated and subjected to judgmental gazes. Accustomed to wearing the burqa in Yemen, she found it difficult to adjust to the reactions of her host society. Seeking a balance between preserving her cultural identity and integrating into her new community, she decided to stop wearing the burqa, which led to greater acceptance.
Nabila Salim’s experience differed. Before traveling to the United States, she chose to stop wearing the burqa and black hijab, opting for a colorful hijab instead. Nabila explains that this decision stemmed from her desire to integrate into the open American society where she would be living.
“Many societies have an influential culture that leaves its mark on those who reside there, especially women, particularly if they live there for an extended period,” she says. “You find that their accent changes if the country is Arab, or their language if they are in a foreign country.”
She emphasizes that when a Yemeni woman is convinced of and committed to wearing the hijab, she will continue to do so even if she lives in the most modern and open country in the world. However, some women believe in adapting to the identity of the societies in which they live, and you quickly find them abandoning the hijab and adopting the same style as the women around them in those countries.
Family Life in a Foreign Land
The stories of Yemenis abroad are diverse and varied. While some have found haven and adapted to new cultures and customs, others struggle with harsh economic conditions that push them to the brink of despair. They face new challenges such as unemployment, poverty, and increasing reports of suicide and involvement in illegal activities, highlighting the extent of suffering experienced by Yemenis abroad and underscoring the urgent need for collective efforts to provide them with the necessary support.
Many families in the diaspora have been forced to pull their children out of school so they can work and contribute to covering living expenses like rent, medical care, and other necessities.
Another problem faced by some Yemenis abroad is the lack of harmony and integration with the culture of host communities, especially those residing in foreign countries with cultures that differ significantly from Yemen in terms of customs, traditions, language, religion, and other aspects.
Yemeni women in the diaspora face significant difficulties in reconciling their original identity with the demands of life in their new societies. Caught between preserving ancestral customs and traditions and adapting to different cultures, Yemeni women experience a struggle for identity, further complicated by challenging economic circumstances.
Between a rich cultural heritage and the demands of living in more open societies, Yemeni women face difficult choices. Social and economic factors significantly impact their lives in the diaspora. They may encounter difficulties in securing suitable job opportunities and adapting to new customs and traditions, all of which contribute to their struggles abroad.
There are also cultural challenges. Many Yemeni families bring their heritage, culture, and ancestral customs and traditions to their new, often more open, countries, especially if they are foreign countries. Yemeni women in these environments are faced with either changing some of their behaviors, such as language and dress, to adapt to the people of those societies, or holding onto their Yemeni identity and enduring potential harassment, discrimination, and bullying.
Regarding economic conditions, women are often the first victims. They bear the brunt of their families’ difficult living standards in the diaspora, working tirelessly to find opportunities that can improve their circumstances.
Social Circumstances
In 2015, Sumaya Abdallah (pseudonym) traveled to a European country to live with her husband and children. Her husband had been working there for a short time, and the family began to grapple with the cultural differences of their host country, which were starkly different from Yemeni culture, customs, and traditions, particularly regarding clothing, language, and religion. This made it difficult for the family to adapt to life there.
The family imposed strict rules on their daughters, requiring them to wear the niqab whenever they left the house out of necessity. They were forbidden from going out for leisure or socializing in public places. This led to deep family conflicts, ultimately resulting in the family’s return to Yemen, leaving the father alone abroad. This incident highlights the challenges faced by Yemeni families abroad, especially women, particularly regarding cultural clashes and social values.
“The situation was very different from Yemen, especially in terms of customs and traditions,” recounts Samia, “However, my father and uncles insisted that we follow the same customs and traditions that we followed in Yemen. We felt suffocated because we were stuck at home most days of the week, unable to go out for walks or to the market. We were also forced to wear black and the niqab, which made us uncomfortable, being in an open society.”
She continues: “We tried to convince our father that we had to face the reality of that country and that we shouldn’t wear black, but we failed. Conflicts arose, so we returned to prevent our parents from separating.”
The Economic Situation
The deteriorating economic situation in Yemen has greatly impacted the lives of Yemeni women in the diaspora, leading to a series of challenges and hardships, which include: Increased Financial Burdens: The financial responsibilities of Yemeni migrant women have increased as they support their families back home or send money regularly. This significant financial pressure negatively affects their mental and physical health, forcing them to work long hours in jobs that may not match their qualifications.
A Yemeni citizen, Wafa Hail returned to her homeland and divorced, leaving her five children with their father in Saudi Arabia. She explains: “My husband was working in a shop with a salary of no more than 1,500 Saudi riyals. This amount wasn’t enough to cover all our needs, including housing, education for the children, food, clothing, and other expenses. I tried to convince him to return to Yemen and work on a project we could start together in one of the Yemeni cities, but he refused. I then suggested that I return with the children while he stayed abroad, but he refused again, and problems began to arise between us.”
She continues: “Our financial situation deteriorated, and our children began to go hungry. I was forced to sell what little jewelry I had. I tried to reason with him again, suggesting we either return together or he stay alone, but he refused. As our financial situation worsened, it led to divorce and my return to Yemen.”
Wafa’s story is not unique. Countless Yemeni families in the diaspora face difficult financial circumstances and cultural differences that contribute to family breakdowns, leaving women struggling to provide security for their children in foreign countries, and defying economic and cultural obstacles.
The influence of Yemeni customs and traditions on the lives of Yemeni women abroad is complex and multifaceted. It requires a delicate balance between preserving cultural identity and adapting to a new society to achieve social integration and personal success.