In my opinion, much of Yemeni society still rejects women who work. Despite the great difficulties faced by working women in Yemen, however, they have been able to both contribute to the national economy and improve it in recent years. Statistics show that women working in various sectors across Yemen have increased.
Hence, in light of the conflict in Yemen, which has taken a serious toll on women´s rights, women here continue to push for their inclusion in the labor force. They face much and tough resistance though. Below are a number of interviews with Yemeni women who have been affected by the war and who have sought to make their own livelihoods. First, we are introduced to Maryam, one of the many women who have become displaced as a result of the war.
Living the consequences of the war
I didn’t know that my move would cause me to lose everything. My name is Maryam, a survivor of the consequences of the current conflict. I moved with my family to live in another area. I originally come from a rather well-established family, but we lost everything in the war, including our home and my father’s business. We lost my father. We had nothing left. I tried to go to the local market to sell incense sticks to get some money, but I just couldn´t do it. I was selling in the worst place in the market and people treated me awfully. As if I was doing something wrong by trying to sell my incense sticks. People in the market criticized me, verbally harassed me and humiliated me. ‘Where is her father,’ they would ask. Or simply tell me: ‘the women’s place is in the house.’ Finally, I was expelled from the market because I am a woman and because it is considered disgraceful for a woman to be a trader in the market.
Losing my dream
My name is Hoor. I am a widow and an orphan at the same time. My two children and I live in a semi-civilized area in one of the governorates of Yemen. Following the death of my husband, I was not able to find anyone who could help me and my children live a decent life. No one from my husband´s family asked about the children or how I was doing following his death. My children and I lived a very difficult life. We used to sit and stretch out our hands and ask the neighbors for help, but it was too hard for me to do.
I got in contact with a local organization that empowers women and helps women open their own business. I completed the training and got a stipend to open a small stall in the middle of the local market. I was the only woman in the market, but I was able to prove my presence and had respect there. My business did well, especially with women, as I provided them with all their needs. I would go into town and get new and interesting things to sell. There was resistance, however. One trader tried to prevent suppliers from selling goods to me simply because I am a woman and because he thinks that I should not be in the market as a woman. I was also a competitor to him as I, just like him, was selling women´s clothes. Then he resorted to spreading rumors about me.
The trader ended up contacting my children’s uncles and told them bad rumors about me. Unfortunately, the men believed the trader without verifying the information. They ended up coming to the market, insulting me and breaking my dream. They forced me to leave the market. My dream was ruined.
