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Dr. Lewis Turner is a Lecturer in International Politics of Gender at Newcastle University, UK. Previously, he served as Senior Researcher at the Arnold Bergstraesser Institute in Freiburg, Germany. He earned his doctorate from the Department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS, University of London. Lewis’ current research explores how the humanitarian sector works with refugee men, and how refugee governance influences ideas and performances of masculinities among refugee communities. His work focuses on areas including formal and informal labor markets, sexual violence prevention, conceptions of vulnerability, resettlement and encampment.
Are Syrian Men Vulnerable Too? Gendering The Syria Refugee Response
This essay examines the place of Syrian men in the refugee response, with a focus on the situation in Jordan. It questions the prevailing understandings of vulnerability, and outlines how the assumption that women and children are ‘the most vulnerable’ affects the distribution of aid and services. The essay demonstrates that, contrary to the perceptions of many in the humanitarian sector, work with refugee men is not only necessary, but can be extremely successful. Syrian men can be vulnerable too.
