Beyond Gender : An Intersectional Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Among Syrian Refugee Women in Jordan

This qualitative research explores how the intersection of gender, class, and refugee status shapes Syrian women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviors in Jordan. Drawing on 40 in-depth narrative interviews—30 with Syrian women residing in urban host communities and 10 in the Zaatari refugee camp – the research employed purposive sampling in coordination with humanitarian organizations and utilized thematic analysis guided by an intersectional framework. Findings reveal that displacement and transition into low-income refugee status have intensified Syrian women’s marginalization, exposing them to compounded socio-structural challenges. These include loss of privacy in domestic spaces, lack of familial support networks, xenophobia, labor exploitation, and heightened vulnerability to sexual abuse. Together, these factors increase the risk of IPV and significantly constrain the ability of women to exit abusive relationships or seek institutional support. Importantly, the research also highlights an often-overlooked dimension: intersectionality-mediated resilience and agency. Despite their compounded vulnerabilities, some women navigated structural limitations with strategic agency – accessing work opportunities, achieving relative economic independence, and leveraging new social roles to foster survival and resistance against IPV.