Women of the Lebanese mountains: A fight for edification

SynopsisIn 1980, a small group of women in the Shouf Mountain village of Baakleen in Lebanon came together under the banner “Women's Edification Assembly” (WEA). Their aim was to provide a sense of security and stability to their families in spite of the unstable and combustive political situation of their country in the throes of civil war at the time. WEA put together activities such as fairs, theatrical performances, poetry evenings, and counseling seminars for women. They also founded a school of music and art, a cultural club, and a scout's club. Their purpose was to provide a stability which patriarchal institutions that dominated the country were not providing, and to build women's solidarity that would enable them to cope with their ordeal. Their mouthpiece was the magazine they entitled Abeer which not only listed their activities, but gave a forum to women to vent their thoughts and to reflect upon the political situation of their country. Through the analysis of the magazine, and through interviews conducted with its editor, Malika Hamadeh, this study demonstrates women's self-declared roles towards their community as its mothers, sisters, and daughters. Additional interviews conducted with those who were children partaking in WEA's activities at the time will show how the organization helped them to cope with war and to live, as much as possible, a “normal” childhood when not residing in bomb shelters. These experiences had an impact on how these individuals assume parenting today in a calmer, yet still volatile environment in Lebanon.