By Maryam Seif El-Din
This study aims to clarify how Hezbollah’s dominance over the bodies of Shiite women—through the imposition of dress codes as well as the alteration of customs and traditions—has succeeded in producing a conformist behavior among many of them. It seeks to understand the underlying motivations that drive the mothers of Hezbollah fighters killed in battle to take pride in the deaths of their sons, and the factors that lead to uniform reactions that often involve exaggerated expressions of sacrifice and solidarity with the Imams, along with the suppression of natural human emotions and the shame associated with expressing them. As a result, there is an acceptance of major losses and a sense of contentment with them—something that a large segment of Lebanese society views with astonishment and without understanding its background.
