ABSTRACT
This chapter describes that the vulnerability of refugee women is linked to social class and therefore disputes studies that link their vulnerability to pre-existing gender roles. The Syrian case in Egypt in particular necessitates an analysis of the impact of class on the experience of exile. The chapter examines the experiences of Syrian women living in Cairo, how class influences these experiences and the impact of the experiences on gender relations and identity. The information upon which it is based was collected through primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through observation and in-depth interviews with a selected sample of Syrian women. The chapter provides some background information on Syrians in Egypt. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides cash assistance to the most needy among the refugee communities in Egypt. Refugees cannot obtain formal employment and so most of them resort to the informal sector.
