Gender, Masculinities and Transition in Conflicted Societies

Authors

Naomi R. Cahn, George Washington University Law SchoolFollow
Fionnuala D. Ni Aolain

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Status

Accepted

Abstract

This article uses a gender lens to explore how conflict affects men and women differently. It examines issues related to the emergence of certain kinds of “hyper” masculinity in situations of conflict and how such masculinities continue to function in subsequent peace-building attempts. The article argues that a failure to account for and be cognizant of these specific masculinities has a significant effect for women in particular, and, more generally, on the success of the conflict transition process. Finally, we show how using a gender lens could make a difference by considering the specific example of the impact of violent masculinities on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs.

GW Paper Series

GWU Law School Public Law Research Paper No. 481; GWU Legal Studies Research Paper No. 481

SSRN Link

http://ssrn.com/abstract=1516709

Recommended Citation

Naomi Cahn & Fionnuala D. Ni Aolain, Gender, Masculinities and Transition in Conflicted Societies, 44 New Eng. L. Rev. 1 (2010).