Constructing ‘Modern Gendered Civilised’ Women and Men: Gender-Mainstreaming in Refugee Camps

Citation:

Grabska, Katarzyna. 2011. “Constructing ‘Modern Gendered Civilised’ Women and Men: Gender-Mainstreaming in Refugee Camps.” Gender and Development 19 (1): 81–93.

Author: Katarzyna Grabska

Abstract:

Gender mainstreaming in humanitarian programmes with forced migrants is based on a belief that such an approach will lead to greater gender equality, while raising the status of women through their ‘empowerment’. In this article, I focus on the activities of international and local humanitarian organisations in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. I argue that the concepts of ‘gender’ and ‘women’ are often over-simplified and essentialised in gender mainstreaming, and this results in programmes which not only exacerbate gender asymmetries, but may also place women at risk.

Keywords: gender-mainstreaming, Kenya, migration

Topics: Displacement & Migration, Migration, Forced Migration, Refugee/IDP Camps, Gender, Women, Gender Mainstreaming, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Equality/Inequality, Humanitarian Assistance, International Organizations Regions: Africa, East Africa Countries: Kenya, Sudan

Year: 2011

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