Blog
13 August 2018

Facing an unmet need in conflict: How gender norms influence teenagers’ psychosocial wellbeing in Gaza

Author: Bassam Abu Hamad
Published by: ALIGN

Forced marriage and school drop-out

Although Gaza is part of what is religiously perceived as a blessed, holy land of peace, it is a cursed place that has seen protracted conflict for decades, tangibly affecting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents.  

A blockage, imposed on 2 million Gazans since 2006, continues to restrict movement of people, goods and services and has seen border crossings closed. The United Nations repeatedly calls it a “protracted human dignity crisis” and a collective punishment.”  

Our context lacks support for the psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents, with 51% showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, increased violence, nightmares, bed-wetting and loss of hope, among others. With strong gender norms in the region, girls are especially affected. The prioritisation of physical needs during emergency assistance often comes at the expense of psychosocial aid.  

A few weeks ago, I met several child brides, who described their marriages as a “jail that ended their childhood." Here in Gaza, 28% of girls are forced to marry before the age of 18. I walked into Jabalia refugee camp in Northern Gaza; its simple concrete buildings reaching as far as the horizon. Between countless of houses and people, I found Aliya*, 16. Pregnant, she spent most of her time inside. "I tried to end my life twice," she told me. Our meeting ran longer than anticipated. I knew that Aliya wanted to be heard and share her thoughts. The lives of Gaza's child brides are hidden and lonely. Sabiha*, now 18, who also lives in a refugee camp, told me that she felt "deprived" of everything. "You feel kidnapped and overwhelmed with responsibilities," she said, adding, "I can't go out. I lost my childhood, my education, my everything."  

Gender norms contribute to gender vulnerabilities; discrepancies  

A child bride is holding up her ring. In the Gazan context, females tend to suffer more than males. Girls experience a double burden, as they are constrained by restrictive cultural norms. Conservative social norms, such as child marriage, restriction on movement, overprotection, ‘family honour’, sexual harassment, and lack of privacy at home create additional stressors. Girls report feeling unprepared for puberty and the physical, mental and emotional changes it brings, with 28% stating this phase had caused them problems and 40% admitting they were afraid of their first period (UNFPA, 2016). 

Child brides described their first day of marriage as the worst experience of their life that has negatively influenced their psychosocial status, especially those who were unaware that they would be expected to engage in sexual intercourse.  

Boys are allowed to go outside with their peers almost without restriction, with 64% of girls reporting that they aren’t invited to go out with friends, reflecting cultural restrictions on mobility. Due to conservative cultural gendered norms, girls have few opportunities for socialising, therefore they report using the internet or watching television more than boys, particularly because of their restricted mobility. 

Mental health services in Gaza 

Wellbeing indexMy research reveals a worrying increase in the number of adolescents adopting harmful risky behaviours such as drug use or even attempting suicide, especially among girls. Females who have dropped out of school are among the most vulnerable, as they are often socially isolated and tend to score lower when it comes to psychosocial wellbeing.  

Widespread gender-based violence additionally damages girls’ and women’s self-esteem and mental wellbeing, yet out of 51% of married females exposed to violence in their homes, less than 1% approached formal aid services.  

Although there are many psychological and mental health providers in Gaza, I found that formal services make a minimal contribution to adolescents’ support networks. Many are too fragmented and reactive and neither age nor gender sensitive. Programmes often focus on younger children or older women and the locations of service providers are largely unknown.  

Going forward, we need more cross-sectoral interventions that consider the multi-faceted nature of psychosocial wellbeing and a greater awareness of the gendered norms and practices that influence mental wellbeing in a conservative context such as Gaza. Gender norms play a key role, particularly surrounding issues of stigma and marriage and psychosocial programmes need to address such gender inequalities.  

However, throughout the context’s difficulties, adolescents - and especially girls - keep looking to the future. They take inspiration from their own self-assertiveness, the power of education and their families. Girls, according to self-esteem index, show an average score of 73 percent.  

*name changed to protect the girl's identity.  

About the author

Bassam Abu HamadBassam Abu Hamad is a Palestinian Public Health Specialist who has worked in education, social services and health for the past 32 years. He is the General Coordinator and Associate Professor at the School of Public  Health of Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, and the manager of its Gaza Branch. Bassam is Regional Director of the Gender and Adolescence Global Evidence (GAGE) programme and researches health, psychosocial impacts, poverty, vulnerability and social protection in Gaza.