Within the Circle: Parents and Children in an Arab Village.

Decision-Making, Violence, Resistance, and Love: Contested and Complicating Narratives of Syrian Marriages

“…In this example, Zubeida capitalized on the love of her future husband, using it to exercise agency. Later, as a refugee in Jordan, she continues to use her influence to achieve her wishes, directing the actions not just of her daughters and her daughter-in-law but also of the male family members including her husband, using her age to challenge seemingly fixed gender norms and social structures (Rabo, 2008;Rugh, 1997). This aligns with Joseph's (1994b, p. 282) analysis of how family dynamics and age may place women in "privileged positions."…”

“…Resistance to love may take various forms, as couples defy expectations by family members, are deemed too young, or face strained family relationships. In some cases, resistance may provide opportunities for those usually lacking the power to exercise power, however, women also find other opportunities to exercise agency in ways that challenge common assumptions about patriarchy and Islam in this region as well as men's expectations of them (Gallagher, 2012;Mahmood, 2001;Rabo, 2008;Rugh, 1997;Zuntz et al, 2021), for example, through seeking to work. Along similar lines, men may challenge notions that love is not to be spoken about by expressing feelings for a wife (Khuri, 2007).…”