Reconstructing intimacy in displacement: Syrian refugees and the re-making of home in Lebanon

This article examines the impact of forced migration on the intimate lives of Syrian couples in Lebanon, focusing on how refugee women and men navigate and reconstruct intimacy in displacement. The upheavals of war and displacement have deeply disrupted Syrian couples’ relationships, contributing to rising divorce rates, child marriages, and domestic violence. Despite these profound changes, the transformation of conjugal intimacy due to conflict-induced displacement remains understudied. Addressing this critical gap, this study investigates how intimacy, encompassing emotional and sexual dimensions, is shaped by the lived experiences of displacement. This article examines the relationship between intimacy and the notions of space and place and focuses on the experiences of five Syrian couples displaced in Lebanon, shedding light on how, in the context of forced migration, intimacy is renegotiated through homemaking practices.