For more than a decade, thousands of Syrian women have found themselves embarking on a forced journey into the unknown, after the war compelled them to leave their homeland. Between the hardship of exile and the harshness of beginning anew, new stories began to be written by women who carried with them Syria’s memory, but who also decided to shape a different reality in their host societies.
Today, Syrian women are spread across a vast diaspora stretching from East to West, pursuing diverse paths in education, work, and creativity. Despite cultural and linguistic barriers, they have managed to turn displacement into an opportunity for self-assertion, offering inspiring models in universities and laboratories, in markets and companies, and in the realms of art and culture.
Their contributions have not been confined to individual success alone but have extended to the creation of a collective image that reflects a will for change and a determination to persevere. They have established social and humanitarian initiatives, taken part in public debates, and succeeded in presenting a more dynamic image of the Syrian woman.
While these success stories vary from one country to another, what unites them is the presence of Syrian women as active agents shaping their own future and that of their families. These stories are inseparable from the wider concerns of Syrian society, yet at the same time they highlight both the individual and collective capacity for adaptation, creativity, and contribution to redefining the role of Syrian women on the international stage.
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A Soft Power Projecting a New Image of Syria
Syrian journalist Maram Homsi, now based in Russia, told +963 that Syrian women in the diaspora have played a pivotal role in recent years, after large numbers were forced to seek refuge in different countries and face major difficulties in building a new life.
She stressed that many succeeded in forging a positive image of Syrian women, becoming examples of resilience and determination through their presence in education, business, and social, cultural, artistic, and sporting activities; offering a model of commitment and creativity.
Homsi added that Syrian women have contributed significantly to science and academic research, achieving notable individual accomplishments. Yet, transforming these achievements into collective gains, she argued, requires greater coordination, including the establishment of support networks among female researchers and stronger opportunities for academic cooperation.
She also pointed out that Syrian women’s initiatives in host countries have helped to enhance the image of the Syrian woman as both influential and productive, noting successful projects in handicrafts, Syrian cuisine, and education, including the founding of Arabic language institutes in Russia. She regarded these as proof of the ability of Syrian women to overcome negative stereotypes.
Homsi continued by emphasising that the cultural and artistic output of Syrian women in the diaspora has amplified their voices globally, through works exploring identity and exile. She mentioned the writer Reem Hanna, who, despite many years of displacement in Russia, has preserved her Syrian identity and reflected it in her dramatic works. Homsi also referred to the active presence of Syrian women in international organisations and human rights associations, suggesting that this may pave the way for a broader political role for Syrian women in the future, particularly considering Syria’s ongoing challenges.
She concluded by affirming that these achievements constitute a form of “soft power” that projects a positive image of Syria in international forums, reconfiguring the narrative of Syrian society away from entrenched stereotypes. For her, the Syrian woman’s balance between integration and the preservation of identity is the key to sustaining this influential role abroad.
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New Images of Agency and Strength
Shaima Aqil Hilal, an activist in the field of disability rights from Idlib, told +963 that Syrian women in the diaspora have managed to make a notable impact and prove themselves across many fields, presenting a model of the educated, conscious, and determined woman.
Hilal argued that this experience reflects the image of the ambitious Syrian woman, capable of engaging in all areas of life. She observed that their presence in external societies has helped to change prevailing perceptions, offering a positive and attractive image of Syrian women. She added that Syrian society’s own social fabric has also facilitated rapid integration and encounters with new cultures.
She further underlined that exile has opened qualitative opportunities for Syrian women in politics, economics, and education. She stressed the importance of seizing these opportunities effectively, while insisting that Syrian women must be present in decision-making positions to preserve this positive image and communicate it internationally.
