Findings

This research consisted of three main parts; conducting 100 surveys, 20 interviews and 4 focus group discussions. 118 women participated in the survey titled ‘The Impact of the Pandemic on Gender-based Violence against Arab-Speaking Women in the Halton Region’. The survey included questions regarding women’s experiences in Canada from assessing violence in the private and the public sphere, incidents of discrimination and othering, access to services, and the impact of the pandemic. 

Demographics
All participants were Arab-speaking women, mainly from Arab countries like Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq, with a few from Kurdish and Armenian backgrounds. The majority were Sunni Muslims, some were Shia Muslims, and others were Christians. Over 80% were Canadian citizens or permanent residents, while some were asylum seekers. They all lived in Ontario, with most in the Halton region or the greater Toronto area. Half of the participants were aged between 36-50, 15% were above 50, and 18% were below 36. The majority were married, with around 10% divorced. More than half had university degrees, 20% were high school graduates, and 35% received foreign education.

Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted, with nineteen participants from the survey group and one expert interview. The interviews were conducted between November 24th, 2022, and February 6th, 2023. They involved two in-person interviews, two over Zoom, and sixteen over phone calls.

Domestic Violence

Participants in surveys and interviews reported being abused by various family members, including mothers-in-law, fathers, mothers, children, and in-laws. Some faced violence from their intimate partners after moving to Canada due to rising living costs and employment challenges. Emotional, verbal, and physical abuse were reported. Notably, over 35% of survey participants skipped questions related to violence.

One interviewee shared her 13-year-long abusive marriage story, which involved physical violence from in-laws, emotional abuse from her spouse, and control over her life. Her spouse denied her the right to work, and her life became more traumatic, leading to serious health issues, including chronic myeloid leukemia.

Another interviewee faced severe violence from her father and brother, including physical and verbal abuse. She and her sister were eventually rescued and placed in a women's shelter for two years before moving to a rental apartment.

GBV In the Public Sphere

Survey participants identified themselves as minorities, with a majority facing discrimination and violence in various settings like academia, hospitals, employment, public transport, sports, and politics. Around 20% of discrimination cases involved actual violence, including verbal, physical, and emotional abuse. Being a visible religious minority played a crucial role in these incidents, leading to threats, ridicule, and physical attacks in some cases.

One survey participant recounted a physical attack where someone cursed her faith and hijab, then proceeded to physically assault her, but others intervened to stop the abuse. Another participant faced verbal abuse while shopping with her children, enduring insults about her faith and hijab. Many reported incidents where they were told they didn't belong or should go back to their country. Islamophobia and stereotyping were commonly experienced. Around 30% of participants believed that concealing their Arab-speaking or visibly-Muslim identity would lead to better treatment and opportunities.

Language was identified as a barrier to facing abuse and GBV. Those who could speak English were better able to understand and respond to verbal abuse, seek assistance, and defend themselves. Discrimination was also reported while accessing governmental services, employment, hospitals, educational spaces, and public transport.

Pandemic

The pandemic had an impact on Arab-speaking women’s access to services as well as increased cases of violence. Participants pointed out that the pandemic caused many to stay in the households for longer duration, and increased violence domestically. Gender-based violence in the public sphere also increased and 12% of the survey participants stated that they faced some form of violence in public spaces during the pandemic. Access to services was highly impacted, and many emphasized the struggle of  unemployment during the pandemic as well as access to housing and educational services. Settlement agencies played a critical role of creating virtual spaces for community gathering and hosted various educational sessions, skills-training workshops and social wellbeing and women wellness events.