Afrah Borji – Women in Development and Peace
Yemeni women in the diaspora face challenges beyond simply adapting to a new environment. They include confronting stereotypes and discrimination while preserving their cultural identity. However, many women have established their presence and influence in their new communities, despite all the social, cultural, and legal obstacles they have faced. This report will shed light on the opinions of the Yemeni community regarding the reasons that have driven Yemeni women to migrate, the challenges they have faced, and their active role in their new societies.
A Prominent Role and Active Participation
Yasir Maqbool, a media professional, says: “Yemeni women in the diaspora play a crucial role in various fields and specialties. This role significantly impacts the local reality in Yemen through their active participation in the communities they live in. They have achieved remarkable accomplishments, enhancing their image in the world and contributing to strengthening their ties with their homeland.”
He explained that the challenges faced by Yemeni women vary from one country to another, as cultures, laws, customs, and traditions differ. The higher a woman’s educational and professional qualifications, the greater her chances of adapting and succeeding abroad.
He pointed out that Yemeni women in the diaspora are ambassadors for their homeland, bearing the responsibility of improving Yemen’s image abroad and contributing to its development.
In the same vein, journalist Muhammad Abdu explains that Yemeni women in the diaspora play a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Yemeni cultural identity, by maintaining Yemeni traditions, customs, and heritage within the communities they are spread across. They contribute to preserving the national bond by raising new generations on Yemeni values and principles, which helps maintain the connection to the motherland.
He reinforces his statement by pointing out that Yemeni women in the diaspora also play a role in the economic aspect, by opening their own businesses in diaspora countries. This contributes to promoting local development outside the homeland. They also participate in establishing projects and commercial activities that connect Yemen to the outside world. Women are involved in charitable and relief social projects, providing support and assistance to the local community in Yemen.
From a different perspective, reporter Abdul-Wahab Shabeel believes that the percentage of Yemeni women migrating is low compared to other countries. He attributed this to conservative customs and traditions that limit women’s movements. He explained that these customs and traditions make it difficult for Yemeni women to break out of a narrow circle, and therefore their impact on the local reality is limited.
For his part, citizen Ahmad Ali explains that women in foreign countries are the weakest link compared to men, especially married women. When their husbands abandon them or pass away, they find themselves in difficult situations, facing harassment, molestation, and violence from the host community. It becomes challenging to enforce laws, whether in the street, at work, or elsewhere. This negatively affects them – psychologically and economically – in the long run.
He points out that the continuation of women’s work in various forms in foreign countries makes them think about suicide or resorting to immoral ways to improve their situation and escape their reality. This necessitates redoubling efforts to provide psychological support and social assistance to Yemeni women from embassies or Yemeni organizations operating in diaspora countries.
Their Role in the Diaspora
Regarding the reasons that have helped Yemeni women migrate abroad, Yasir Maqbool explains that there are many reasons, including difficult economic conditions, developing the scientific aspect, escaping conflicts and their repercussions, and even social aspects are among the most important reasons that force women to migrate outside their homeland. Some Yemeni families left Yemen early on in search of better living and economic conditions.
Journalist Muhammad mentioned that the armed conflict – in general – is the most important reason that has contributed significantly at present to the migration of many women outside their homeland, seeking better opportunities for life, and feeling safe and secure abroad.
He explained that the deteriorating security situation and lack of stability in some Yemeni regions, the deterioration of economic conditions, and the high rates of poverty, have forced many women to flee and seek safe areas to settle with their families.
He added: “The restrictions imposed by Yemeni society on women in some Yemeni regions, and the prevalence of domestic violence in Yemen as a result of the repercussions of the conflict, have led some women to leave the country to escape these practices that are practiced against them.”
In the same context, lawyer Ibtihaj Ahmad confirmed that the number of Yemeni women seeking refuge abroad or relocating for study or family reasons has noticeably increased. She added that the primary cause of this diaspora is the ongoing conflict that has been raging in Yemen for the past ten years.
She added that there is a segment of Yemeni women who have sought asylum in European countries, due to the threats they receive as a result of social, family, media, or other positions, and she indicated that some of them decided to migrate and start a new life abroad with the support of their families.
An expatriate in Jordan for over 25 years, Azhar Ahmad, talks about her experience in the diaspora with her family, saying: “I have been in the diaspora for several years, and it has given me more than I expected. I have achieved many of my aspirations in terms of education, security, and living conditions. I opened my own business (a beauty salon), and I became the breadwinner for my family and developed myself. I also participated in some private business ventures, and I joined some effective training courses. I found in the diaspora what I did not find and was not available in my country, such as security and essential life services.”
Challenges
Regarding other challenges facing women abroad, media professional Yasir Maqbool points to the existence of many challenges, including discrimination. Yemeni women are discriminated against based on their gender, race, or religion. This discrimination can take various forms, from verbal harassment to discrimination in wages, in addition to the difficulty of social integration and adapting to new cultures.
Yasir continued, “Language barriers and the difficulty of learning the language of the new country they have migrated to are among the major challenges. There are also economic challenges. Yemeni women in the diaspora find it difficult to get job opportunities quickly that enable them to meet their daily needs.”
Regarding the psychological challenges resulting from the feelings of women in the diaspora, they feel homesick for their homeland, families, and lives in Yemen. They may suffer from psychological conditions, tension, or stress, which may arise as a result of practicing new customs and traditions that are difficult to accept and adapt to easily.
In the same context, journalist Muhammad Abdu says: “The challenges lie in the difficulty of adapting to the new environment and dealing with different languages and cultures. Many women suffer from discrimination and racism in diaspora countries, especially if they are unable to master the language of the country.”
He added: “Some women also suffer from psychological and emotional problems as a result of their separation from their families and their social environment in Yemen, which affects their job opportunities and the continuation of their education in diaspora countries.”
Teacher Fatin Al-Daghish explained that one of the most prominent challenges facing Yemeni women, if they decide to migrate or seek asylum abroad, is the lack of a male guardian when traveling, in addition to the community’s refusal to allow women to seek asylum or study abroad without the consent of their families. These restrictions constitute a major obstacle for Yemeni women and limit their opportunities to achieve their potential and develop their skills, especially when educational and professional development opportunities are available.
Legal Perspective
Lawyer Angham Sayid mentions that Yemeni law emphasizes the need for official authorities to provide all necessary assistance to Yemenis abroad without exception. Article 6 states that “The Ministry of Expatriate Affairs is responsible for the welfare of expatriates abroad by fostering and developing bilateral relations with countries where expatriates reside. The Ministry assists Yemeni communities in fulfilling their tasks and achieving their goals, strengthens their ties to the homeland, and supports community schools by providing books, curricula, and educational materials. It also supervises these schools, qualifies educators, offering them the necessary assistance according to available resources.”
Proposed Solutions
Many Yemenis abroad believe that solutions that can alleviate the suffering of women abroad include working towards political stability in the homeland, which would have a positive impact on expatriates, especially women, opening up investment opportunities, and improving education, so that many job opportunities are available to attract young people and improve their standard of living.
Journalist Muhammad Abdu stressed the need to provide support programs and psychological and social counseling for Yemeni women in the diaspora to help them adapt and integrate, provided by official authorities and organizations operating abroad. In addition to working to strengthen communication and coordination between government institutions and women’s committees in Yemen and Yemeni communities abroad to provide support and necessary services and establishing cultural and community centers to preserve Yemeni identity and heritage and strengthen ties to the homeland.
He continued, saying: “It is essential to encourage Yemeni women in the diaspora to participate in development and charitable activities in Yemen. It is also necessary to work to improve the economic and social conditions of women in Yemen to reduce the motives for migration.”
Media professional Abdul-Wahab Shabeel also stressed the need for joint work by all parties to the conflict to strengthen political and security stability to stop the migration of Yemeni women, as the main reason behind this lies in the instability that the country is experiencing in various economic, social, and other aspects.
He pointed to the importance of providing financial and job stability and improving living conditions, which would deter many women from deciding to migrate.