Patriarchy

Citation:

Paarlberg-Kvam, Kate. 2019. “What’s to Come Is More Complicated: Feminist Visions of Peace in Colombia.” International Feminist Journal of Politics 21 (2): 194–223.

Author: Kate Paarlberg-Kvam

Abstract:

The years following the Colombian Congress’ 2016 approval of peace accords with the country’s oldest and largest guerrilla army have brought into stark relief Cynthia Enloe’s assertion that “wars don’t simply end, and wars don’t end simply.” As Colombia and the international community grapple with the complexity of constructing a society at peace, it is essential to listen to Colombian feminists’ visions of what a true and lasting peace would look like. While the feminist gains evinced by the accords represent a significant step forward, my research with feminist peace networks during the negotiations points to a still broader vision of peace that has not yet been embodied by the accords or their implementation. I argue that the antimilitarist, antineoliberal and antipatriarchal peace envisioned by feminist activists is more comprehensive, more transformative and more stable than that contained in the accords, and offer predictions of how feminists might pursue their vision in the post-accords reality.

Keywords: Colombia, demilitarization, FARC-EP, feminism, peace negotiation

Topics: Economies, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militarization, Peacebuilding, Peace Processes Regions: Americas, South America Countries: Colombia

Year: 2019

Citation:

Kumar Singh, Dinesh. 2010. “Women, Security, Peace and Conflict in South Asia.” The Indian Journal of Political Science 71 (2): 651-61.

Author: Dinesh Kumar Singh

Abstract:

The present article attempts to contextualize a discourse on security, peace and conflict from feminist perspectives. It also attempts to revisit the patriarchal theoretical traditions and scrutinize its fallacious understanding of these issues. The feminist perspectives demands for democratisefion and féminisation of security and peace agenda. They maintain that conflict and peace are gendered activities. The dominant conflict, peace and security discourses ignore disempowered women's perspectives. Women's role and responses in conflict and peace are different. This paper provides insights into women's narratives of peace, conflict and security in South Asia. It explores the operation of gender hierarchy and resistance to it, the nature of changing space i.e. the space disempowered women created for themselves and the space that was denied tothem.lt also maps role of women 's agency as well as their language of resistance and empowerment in conflict in South Asia.

The feminist perspectives and peace studies research have challenged dominant discourse of peace and security. They have advocated for redefinition of security and peace. They tend to view the notion of peace and security from the perspective of disadvantaged and disempowered women.

Topics: Conflict, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Gender Roles, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Gender Equality/Inequality, Peace and Security, Peace Processes, Security Regions: Asia, South Asia

Year: 2010

Citation:

Gilmartin, Niall. 2019. "Gendering the ‘Post-Conflict’ Narrative in Northern Ireland’s Peace Process." Capital & Class 43 (1): 89-104. 

Author: Niall Gilmartin

Abstract:

The Good Friday Agreement negotiations gave a unique opportunity for the insertion of women’s rights and equal formal representation in the new post-conflict Northern Ireland. Notwithstanding the robust and unambiguous commitments in the text of the agreement, the primary architects of the peace process, however, situated gender and women’s position as peripheral to the main priorities of ‘guns and government’. While conventional forms of peacebuilding claim to be beneficial for all, evidence from the so-called ‘post-conflict’ period around the world demonstrates a continuity of violence for many women, as well as new forms of violence. This article explores the position of women in Northern Ireland today across a number of issues, including formal politics, community activism, domestic violence and reproductive rights. By doing so, it continues feminist endeavours seeking to problematise the ‘post-conflict’ narrative by gendering peace and security. While the Good Friday Agreement did undoubtedly provide the potential for a new era of gender relations, 20 years on Northern Irish society exhibits all the trademarks and insidious characteristics of a patriarchal society that has yet to undergo a genuine transformation in gender relations. The article argues that the consistent privileging of masculinity and the dominance of male power is a commonality that remains uninterrupted by the peace process.

Keywords: Gender, Northern Ireland, peace, post-conflict, security

Topics: Domestic Violence, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Masculinity/ies, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Peace and Security, Post-Conflict, Political Participation, Peace Processes, Rights, Reproductive Rights, Women's Rights, Violence Regions: Europe, Western Europe Countries: United Kingdom

Year: 2019

Citation:

Kim, Dong Jin. 2019. "Beyond Identity Lines: Women Building Peace in Northern Ireland and the Korean Peninsula." Asia Europe Journal. doi: 10.1007/s10308-019-00551-5.

Author: Dong Jin Kim

Abstract:

This article explores the challenges and contributions of women in building and sustaining peace in protracted conflicts by conducting a comparative case study on Northern Ireland and Korea. Similarities in the histories of the conflicts and the concurrences in the peace processes have been attracting policy makers and researchers to share lessons between the Northern Ireland and Korean peace processes. However, the peacebuilding role of women and their transversal perspective have not yet received significant attention compared to the high-level agreements, signed predominantly by male politicians. This article identifies the similarities in the peacebuilding activities of women in Northern Ireland and Korea, in terms of their recognition of the interconnection between identity politics and patriarchy, building relationships across the divide through transversal dialogue, and initiating nonviolent peace movements against the militarism of their societies. The comparative case study also shows dissimilarities between the two cases, with regard to the freedom of women to move beyond boundaries, and being part of the official peace process. This article concludes the role of women in both contexts is a key element in sustainable peacebuilding; however, it appears that women’s peacebuilding would not be able to reach its full potential to break down violent structures in conflict-affected societies, as long as their transversal perspective remains at the level of social movement, not part of peacebuilding at all levels of societies, including high-level negotiations.

Keywords: women, Gender, peacebuilding, peace process, Northern Ireland, Korea

Topics: Conflict, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militarism, Peacebuilding, Peace Processes, Post-Conflict, Violence Regions: Asia, East Asia, Europe, Western Europe Countries: North Korea, South Korea, United Kingdom

Year: 2019

Citation:

Bayisenge, Jeannette. 2015. "Women’s Experiences of Land Conflicts in the Context of the Land Tenure Reform Program in Rwanda." International Journal of Gender and Women's Studies 3 (1): 118-33.

Author: Jeannette Bayisenge

Abstract:

Land is a highly important and contested resource in developing countries, and despite measures taken to ensure gender equality in land-ownership, women experience more land-related conflicts than men. The purpose of this paper is to explore women's experiences of land-related conflicts in the context of the Land Tenure Reform Program in Rwanda. Theoretically, a bargaining approach to land conflicts guides the understanding of the findings and their analysis. Empirical data are mainly collected from 480 women in the Musanze District, using survey interviews, semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Findings indicate that only a small number of women reported having encountered land conflicts, which may be related to the culture of not exposing family issues to the public. Land conflicts that women face are mostly related to inheritance, polygamy and the daily management of land and its produce. Women reported that challenges such as lack of legal knowledge, as well as rejection of their claims by their husbands, families and community affect their willingness to pursue claims for their rights. The challenges that women are confronted with while claiming their rights are mainly influenced by the power structure that are based on male supremacy. Consequently, reforms aiming at strengthening women's land rights must be based on a good understanding of social and cultural norms

Keywords: women, land conflicts, land tenure reform, Rwanda

Topics: Conflict, Resource Conflict, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Gender Equality/Inequality, Land Tenure, Households, Rights, Land Rights Regions: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa Countries: Rwanda

Year: 2015

Citation:

Tekle, Tsehainesh. 1998. "Women's Access to Land and Property Rights in Eritrea." Paper presented at Inter-Regional Consultation, Kigali, Rwanda, February. 

Author: Tsehainesh Tekle

Annotation:

Summary:
"The implications of women’s land inheritance for the position of women are very far-reaching. If land inheritance became a generalised feature of Eritrean society, it would be a powerful agent in the empowerment of women, as it would increase women’s economic independence. It is probable that most women in Eritrea are not yet aware of how the new land laws affect their rights and those of their daughters. It is important, therefore, to make information about land laws and their implications widely available.

At this early stage there is a gap between the legal reforms of the EPLF (now the Government of Eritrea) and on-the-ground realities. The implementation of the new laws is not proving an easy matter. For example, ignorance of the law is, along with cultural preferences for early marriage, one of the factors contributing to the continuing pressure to provide a dowry. Also, in spite of the new laws prohibiting discrimination against women, men are still refusing to give them land to which they are legally entitled.

Customary law dictates most rights and restrictions within the community. The latter often conflict - and will do so increasingly - with the new civil code and the provisions of the newly proclaimed Constitution. The implementation of the new land law is a big challenge. In order to speed up the process, the Land Commission should be made stronger. Women’s awareness of their rights must be strengthened, too. And the means and support to follow through the complex and lengthy legal processes must be provided to women, if they are to improve their condition by legal means. The new Constitution does not negate the value of customary law, but it aims to ensure equality for women" (Tekle 1998, 7-8).

Topics: Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Gender Equality/Inequality, Households, Post-Conflict, Rights, Land Rights Regions: Africa, East Africa Countries: Eritrea

Year: 1998

Citation:

Kindervater, Lisa, and Sheila Meintjes. 2018. "Gender and Governance in Post-Conflict and Democratizing Settings." In The Oxford Handbook of Gender and Conflict, edited by Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Naomi Cahn, Dina Francesca Haynes, and Nahla Valji, 468-484. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Authors: Lisa Kindervater, Sheila Meintjes

Abstract:

Women have the opportunity to make significant economic, political, and sociocultural gains during transitions to peace and democracy; however, these gains are frequently lost when competitive electoral politics resumes. This chapter identifies the key mechanisms responsible for this loss, providing examples from several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. These mechanisms include institutional constraints, historical political conditions, donor-driven agendas, prevailing cultural norms, and the nature of the women’s movement. The chapter suggests that while the enactment of laws and policies related to women’s rights are an important first step, a feminist and transformational agenda in post-conflict societies requires focus on patriarchal cultures and practices. The chapter argues that such transformation is aided by the fostering of strong relationships between grassroots women activists and politically elite women.

Keywords: post-conflict, electoral politics, patriarchal cultures, feminism, women's movement, donor agenda, Sub-Saharan Africa

Topics: Class, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Governance, Livelihoods, Post-Conflict, Political Participation, Peace Processes Regions: Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa

Year: 2018

Citation:

Moghadam, Valentine M. 2013. Modernizing Women: Gender and Social Change in the Middle East. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

Author: Valentine M. Moghadam

Annotation:

Topics: Democracy / Democratization, Development, Economies, Feminisms, Gender, Women, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Livelihoods, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, Religion Regions: Africa, MENA, North Africa, Asia, South Asia Countries: Afghanistan, Iran

Year: 2013

Citation:

Kim, Min Ji. 2019. "Reparations for "Comfort Women": Feminist Geopolitics and Changing Gender Ideologies in South Korea." Cornell International Affairs Review 12 (2): 5-43.

Author: Min Ji Kim

Abstract:

This paper studies feminist geopolitical practices in South Korea in the context of “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese military around the Second World War. Although there has been a considerable amount of literature penned on the comfort women issue, existing discussions focus largely on the conflict between nationalist and feminist paradigms, while largely minimizing feminist activism and changing gender narratives within Korean society. Therefore, this research aims to expand the field by considering the struggles that comfort women have endured through the lens of feminist geopolitical scholarship. I argue that comfort women activism constitutes a form of feminist geopolitical practice in a way that challenges masculine gender narratives. It has opened up new spaces where comfort women survivors can produce a sense of “survivorhood” and move beyond passivity throughout their lives. The rise of their active voices signals the overturning of traditional patriarchal structures; consequently, along with other forms of activism, these narratives have eventually led to a shift in public attitudes. Unlike how nationalist accounts were dominant in the early 1990s, the increased public attention towards the feminist accounts in the mid-2010s has subsequently increased media coverage of survivors and feminist practices.

Topics: Feminisms, Gender, Women, Masculinity/ies, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Military Forces & Armed Groups, Militaries, Nationalism, Sexual Violence, Sexual Slavery Regions: Asia, East Asia Countries: South Korea

Year: 2019

Citation:

Davis, Laura. 2019. "Women Peace and Security: Adrift in Policy and Practice." Feminist Legal Studies 27 (1): 95-107.

Author: Laura Davis

Abstract:

This comment refects on how the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda has been translated into policy and put into practice by the European Union and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although the WPS agenda has enabled many gains by women peacebuilders, this comment identifes important challenges from these two very diferent contexts. First, situating WPS policy areas within a broader feminist political economy analysis demonstrates how little infuence the WPS agenda has across government. Second, the WPS agenda is being (mis)used to promote heteronormative, patriarchal understanding of ‘gender’, stripped of any power dynamics and excluding any gender identities that do not conform. The result, then, is that WPS policies and practice are adrift in the patriarchal policy mainstream.

Topics: Feminisms, Feminist Political Economy, Gender, Gendered Power Relations, Patriarchy, Peacebuilding, Peace and Security, UN Security Council Resolutions on WPS Regions: Africa, Central Africa, Europe Countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Year: 2019