On the morning of March 8, 2025—International Women’s Day—I sent messages to Lebanese women wishing them a happy day. However, I found myself pausing to reflect. Given the challenges many women face, should we truly celebrate Women’s Day in Lebanon? My thoughts turned to the struggles and resilience of women in our communities, prompting a deeper consideration of the significance of this day.
I do not have my rights, and I don’t think my daughters’ will either. I hope for a future where all women can feel safe and valued.
I am 40 years old, the mother of two girls, and the wife of an open-minded, secular Lebanese man. And yet, I do not feel free, safe, or enough. Lebanon is still way behind when it comes to women’s rights. It’s disheartening to know that our country has so much to achieve in terms of women’s rights.
Countless Lebanese women courageously advocate for equality and justice. Some have reached leadership positions, bravely pushing for meaningful change. But have we achieved equality?
Today, Lebanese women still need their husband’s permission to travel with their children. We can’t open a bank account for them. We can’t pass on our citizenship (law 15 since 1925). Society and our families expect us to manage our household, take care of the children, handle the doctor’s appointments, the school schedules, and the responsibilities—yet we own nothing unless our husbands allow it and are generous enough to give us financial benefits. As a Lebanese woman, you can invest a lot financially in your house and home. Still, if at any time we face difficulties with our husbands and families, we do not get any of our rights since the personal status law is religiously based and is driven by patriarchal laws that were made by men and for men.
The bitter truth is that women have fought for equality, broken barriers, and achieved many other great things, but the most crucial things remain unchanged.
First, Lebanese women and men still raise boys to believe they are entitled to more. Second, here we are: Lebanese women—strong, independent, capable women—with no rights. Society now expects us to do it all: keep the peace, sacrifice, look elegant, succeed in our professions, be great mothers, and support our partners financially. And in return? We are exhausted. Disrespected. Unappreciated. Unprotected.
We must not celebrate Women’s Day yet. Not until we can travel freely with our children. Not until we can make financial decisions for them. Not until we stop needing permission for basic freedoms. Not until our mothers, mothers-in-law, and society stopped expecting us to tolerate our husband’s mood swings and violence because “that’s what women do. They have to tolerate to keep the family intact.”
We will not do so until we can take a break from unpaid care work without asking or begging our husbands and family for it.
Until we can express to our husbands that we don’t wish to engage in a sexual relationship without feeling pressured by reminders of their legal rights, we need to feel respected and understood in our relationship.
Until we can request divorce without having to worry about custody and religious laws that will forbid us from seeing our children.
We don’t want to be equal to men. We are different, and that’s okay. But we want our rights. As mothers who carry their children for nine months inside them—they shift their hormones, their bodies, and their lives. As daughters who continue to care for their parents, no matter their struggles. We are women who deserve more than just equality—We deserve respect. We deserve appreciation. We deserve our rights. We deserve to be considered essential members of society, not merely wives and mothers. We are women.
March of this year should be a call for the new First Lady and all newly elected women ministers to take action to enact laws that respect women at both local and national levels.
We urge the prioritization of enacting laws that prohibit child marriage; can you imagine that girls can get married in Lebanon as young as 9 years old? Additionally, we seek a resolution for the nationality law and request follow-up on the bills presented over the past years. We encourage all women to initiate changes at the household level to raise boys who respect women and advocate for their rights.
While laws and legislation are crucial, and we ask the government to revise and amend all discriminatory laws and practices—specifically those related to personal status matters which are highly unjust and discriminatory—change begins at home. Educating all children, both girls and boys, is critical to fostering a more equitable society.
Marya Wazen *
A Lebanese Mother
