Notes in the Field: 2020 Edition
By: Corinne R. Paalman
Tags: Covid 19, Syrian Refugees, Covid Diaries, Middle East, Remote Working

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gender-based Violence concerning Syrian Refugees in Jordan.

The story that follows is my experience researching the above inquiry through a remote internship opportunity, and a reflection on the challenges I faced when I was diagnosed with the COVID-19 Virus during this time.

I was studying abroad in Amman Jordan during the Spring of 2020 when COVID-19 ramped up its quest for world domination. After being required to return to America, I was accepted this past summer to be a remote intern for the Higher Population Council (HPC) in Amman. The HPC is an organization within the Jordanian government that acts as a reference for all population and development related issues in Jordan. They are responsible for facilitating policy implementation, raising awareness of enhancing national capabilities, and researching topics of interest (HPC, 1970).

For me, this position was a way to stay connected with the world I was engaged in before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I had been ripped away from my studies, the vivid culture of Amman, the hills and valleys on the outskirts of the city, and most importantly- multiple lifelong connections- so quickly. I was excited about the opportunity to continue studying with the region, even if I could not physically be present.

My task from the HPC was to write a literature review of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence, specifically concerning Syrian refugees in Jordan. My daily tasks were to investigate the importance of the topic, summarize the available literature, and note the most promising solutions (Paalman, 2020). My goal was to provide background information on the topic for the HPC as they prepared to conduct their own study addressing the effects of the pandemic on gender-based violence (GBV).

Investigating the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender-based violence is important because most guidelines concerning GBV and pandemics have been written after the fact, as a result of an observable rise in GBV (GBV AoR, 2020). This is understandable, given we have not endured a pandemic in one hundred years, but it means that the world is behind on preventative measures. As stated in the literature review, “though efforts are being made, the sudden onset of the crisis and a lack of preparedness has resulted in service providers playing catchup on an issue that has just now been deemed critical” (Paalman, 2020).

Pandemics can increase societal inequalities (UN, 2020) and exacerbate or spark diverse forms of GBV (Peterman Et al, 2020). These effects are especially detrimental for those in more vulnerable situations like women and refugees where access to essential items, internet, and education are limited, leading to a high-stress environment.

I settled into the quarantine work routine like much of the rest of the world during the summer of 2020. I woke up at 9:30 in my quaint- but homey, San Francisco apartment, made a small breakfast and a coffee, sat in front of my computer screen, and began to work. As I researched, it struck me that there were virtually no scientific studies with data existing on this topic, meaning the HPC study would be one of the first groups to explore the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on gender-based violence concerning Syrian refugees.

This made the literature review even more important. I was proud to contribute something worthwhile in the realm of research and hopefully, to help make a tangible difference in the civic and governmental awareness of the effect of the pandemic on GBV. Unfortunately, my initiative and ambition came to a standstill when I realized that my sense of smell was disappearing.

Days of research on the effects of the pandemic in Jordan morphed into frantic hours in search of COVID-19 testing sites in San Francisco. My mind was reeling at the difficulties of getting a test and I was consumed with my health, my attention breaking from the women and girls struggling in Jordan.

Receiving a positive diagnosis did not profoundly alter my daily routine. I still woke up every morning at 9:30, got a cup of coffee, and opened my laptop. The difference was that my mentality was rooted in uncertainty. At this point, the world was only gradually discovering the patterns of this micro killer, and I was not receiving the news any faster.

The virus seemed random and irrational; I had heard stories of people who showed mild symptoms the first week, but abruptly, found themselves battling life-threatening symptoms the second week. Others tested positive but had no symptoms at all. For all I knew, the next two weeks were, for me, a coin flip between asymptomatic downtime and a life-threatening health emergency.

I was concerned that my sense of smell would not return, as some media networks had reported. A week into the onset of symptoms, I began to feel mild chest pain. With no guarantee of anything, anxiety and an overactive imagination left me with regular migraines and a racing heart, especially as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep. I was alone, quarantined with only my irrational thoughts. Though this may seem unreasonable to an outsider, I was often troubled with thoughts of dying in my sleep. I was confused and frightened.

Fortunately, I was one of the lucky individuals graced with a smooth recovery. My smell returned gradually, and my chest pain never rose to an unbearable level. None of my symptoms became severe, I did not struggle to breathe, and I could eventually add light activity into my routine. As the virus ran its course I was able to accept the comforting truth that I was going to be okay. My mind settled, and once again I could focus on researching.

In the days that followed, I read testimonies, analyses, and reports:

“The curtailing of services and difficulty accessing them may lead to more unplanned pregnancies or problematic births”.

“Women and girl survey participants point to physical … and emotional violence … as the most prevalent types of GBV that are occurring during the lockdown”.

“With the courts closed, cases related to domestic violence, denial of resources, and other forms of GBV are delayed, depriving women and girls of the essential legal protection rights under Jordanian law.” (Anderson 2020).

I felt guilty that my health worries had consumed me in the weeks prior. Surely one should not feel guilty for worrying about one’s health in a pandemic, however, this guilt was rooted in the contrast between my experience with the COVID-19 virus, and the struggle of the female Syrian refugees I was studying. For those in more vulnerable situations, the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic is considerably more life-threatening.

During my battle with the pandemic, I had all the resources I could need, a stable and secure environment, and easy access to health care. Outside the walls of my self-isolation, women and girls were being denied due process of law, facing emotional and physical abuse and potentially dangerous health conditions.

In an alternate reality, this paper would be categorized as a ‘notes in the field’ contribution, yet 2020 happened, and here we are. When ‘the field’ is represented through a small screen in a dimly lit apartment, being present is difficult. I remember initially lamenting that if the internship was physically abroad, I could have made a greater impact on the project- or the lives of these women. Wistful regret was a natural response, but I did what I could with the world’s situation, as the health and psychological effects of the Corona Virus have been experienced by each and every one of us.

Researching Syrian women affected by the fallout from the pandemic (GBV) whilst being COVID-19 positive myself allowed me to reflect on my life and resolve to live graciously through the opportunities I have been given. It inspired me to continue doing my part given the situation and showed me the power and potential I have to make an impact. The world is bleeding right now, and some of us need more help than others. We can all continue to work towards the common good, despite the challenges we face, and even if it must be done through video calls and E-mails.

Special thanks to Rania Al-Abbadi from the Higher Population Council (HPC) for her guidance and understanding;

Bayan Abdulhaq, and the Students for International Training (SIT) community for providing me this opportunity.

Works Cited

“HPC Homepage.” HPC, 20 Oct. 1970, www.hpc.org.jo/en.

Paalman, Corinne. Internship Review: The Effects of Coronavirus Pandemic on Gender-Based Violence in the Context of Syrian Refugees in Jordan. Students for International Training, 20 Aug. 2020.

Paalman, Corinne. “Literature Review: Effect of the Corona Virus Pandemic on Gender-Based Violence Concerning Syrian Refugees in Jordan.” 13 Aug. 2020. (In affiliation with the Higher Population Council)

Peterman, Amber. “Pandemics and Violence Against Women and Children.” Center For Global Development, 1 Apr. 2020, www.cgdev.org/publication/pandemics-and-violence-against-women-and-children.

Anderson, Kristine. 2020. “Daring To Ask, Listen, And Act: A Snapshot Of The Impacts Of COVID-19 On Women And Girls’ Rights And Sexual And Reproductive Health”. Reliefweb. https://reliefweb.int/report/jordan/daring-ask-listen-and-act-snapshot-impacts-covid-19-women-and-girls-rights-and-sexual.