Mothers, Memories, and Mobilisation: How Intergenerational Trauma Shapes Lebanese Gen Z Women’s Civic Engagement

Inherited and inter-generational trauma shape how people think and act at personal, family, and societal levels, often influencing whether they feel safe engaging in protest or public discourse. In Lebanon, many mothers of Gen Z daughters lived through war, which makes them more sensitive to danger and protective of their children—especially after events like the 2020 Beirut port explosion. While daughters inherit some of this trauma, they still try to challenge it and find ways to break cycles of violence.