Characterizing the Engagement of Syrian Women in the Revolution

Abstract

The Syrian 2011 revolution was a moment of unprecedented expression and graphic conquest of the public space. Written and chanted words, sometimes shouted and sang during the demonstrations, have somehow crystallized hopes, disillusionment and indignation of the Syrian people. Harâ’ir ‮حرائر‬‎ (Free Women) is one of them. When it appeared on the revolutionary scene, it quickly raised a fierce debate within opposition groups. If some protesters considered the word to be “poetic” and neutral, others believed that its use was a sign of an Islamist derivation discriminatory against women. Harâ’ir is used in various manners, linked to the context of enunciation and also to the political stance of the individuals using or even, at times, brandishing it as a slogan. The aim of this article is to highlight several usages situated in Syria since 2011 and to analyze the term’s semantic and emotional resonance.