BORN TO STATELESSNESS Under the current patriarchal set-up, gender is an influential element for Lebanese fathers when deciding whether or not to register their child’s birth. As a result, women have higher chances of ending up nonregistered. • Nonregistered females account for 64% of the stateless respondents, while unregistered males account for only 36%. Fig 39. Breakdown of nonregistered category by gender • A majority of Lebanese fathers are hence deliberately distinguishing between their male and female children, with a pronounced preference for registering male children. • “Customs” and “traditions” came among many of the social factors captured by the survey when exploring the reasons for nonregistration. For instance, some respondents said that registering girls did not hold much importance under their customs, or that their registration would be the duty of their future husband. • The majority of surveyed women showed clear signs of fear or discomfort over the course of the surveys. Many were lost or worried about answering questions without the presence of a male referee, while others were interviewed hidden behind doors because their husbands were at work. • When asked why her children were not registered, one surveyed woman replied that her husband “hates girls.” This is only one of many reported stories about how some men in Akkar stigmatize women. Female 36% Male 64% “ My husband killed my daughters by not registering them. Lebanese woman, Tell Ende, April 20 © 2021 Siren Associates. All Rights Reserved.