… They don’t have a piece of paper that says you have a nationality - it is degrading.” Speaking to Reuters, Paula Yacoubian, a parliamentarian from the civil society bloc who has been fighting to reverse the biased law, highlighted its broader ramifications: “It is not only about women - it is about suffering families. Not only does the law deny women nationality rights, it can also leave their children stateless. One of the most striking examples of legal discrimination, and a rallying point for demonstrators, is that Lebanese women cannot pass on citizenship to their children. In no uncertain terms, women are discriminated against in the country’s laws, economic practices, and social and political norms. The challenges brought on by Lebanon’s poor public services and sinking economy are especially amplified for poor women and women in neglected regions, domestic migrant workers, refugees, and sexual minorities, among other marginalized groups. If the spirit of this movement is about righting the wrongs brought on by sectarianism, poor governance, and corruption, we must recognize the specific and disproportionate injustices women experience in the country. Women have inspired the revolution, led the movement, and protected it from the machinations of the sulta (authority). The popularity and influence of such messages speaks to the empowered role women are playing in this movement and debunks both the orientalist depictions of Lebanese women as in need of being spoken for and the patriarchal tropes of women as passive or submissive actors. Of these videos, some of the most powerful and widely circulated monologues have been of women speaking their truth, sharing their experiences, and condemning the entire ruling elite. In many ways, these clips, and the ease with which they can be shared, have energized protests and motivated people to rally around shared economic, social, and political struggles. Most notably, clips of protesters condemning the government and the abysmal state of public services have gone viral, simultaneously communicating the depth of the issues and empowering new participants to join the movement. Social media has played a significant role in empowering protesters to communicate their grievances and raise their voices. These are not isolated incidents - photographs and videos of women, across generations, participating in the revolution, holding witty and bold protest posters, dancing defiantly, and protecting their fellow demonstrators highlight the very visible engagement of women in the revolution. The underlying reasons for doing so were to protect their male counterparts from violence by the army, defuse tensions, and maintain the non-violent nature of the protests. As the protests grew in size and momentum, photographs spread on social media of young women and girls forming barriers between the army and demonstrators. One of the first viral moments that galvanized the movement was footage of a woman kicking an armed security guard who threatened to open fire on protesters. Since the very beginning of the protests, women have been on the frontlines. As protesters wait for more detailed plans concerning broader structural reforms, there is a need to draw special attention to the systemic struggles women face in the country, and to emphasize the agency and leadership they have shown in shaping this revolutionary movement. From the onset, women have been an integral part of Lebanon’s revolution, and its growing strength would not be possible without their participation, leadership, and courage. Heralded as al-thawra, or revolution in Arabic, Lebanon is witnessing the rise of an inclusive, decentralized, and grassroots movement that transcends geography, sect, and traditional loyalties to political dynasties and parties. 29, Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his resignation and that of the government, a move that has been hailed as an important victory for the protestors who have taken to the streets across the country for nearly three weeks now.
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