Shifting gender roles: an analysis of violence against women in post-conflict Uganda. Issue 3 (2nd April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sengupta, Anasuya; Calo, Muriel
• Is Part Of: Development in practice. Volume 26:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 297
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02
• Subjects: Gender and diversity -- Conflict and reconstruction -- Civil society – NGOs -- Sub-Saharan Africa; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 338.91091724
• DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2016.1149151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-4524

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Based on findings from a qualitative study in northern Uganda, this article explores factors leading to gender-based violence (GBV) in the post-conflict African context. The crisis of masculinity becomes crucial to understanding women's vulnerability to GBV. This crisis stems from the trauma of losing one's internal resources – socially constructed identity role and purpose, and one's external resources – wealth and productive assets. We find that armed conflict replaces the positive male identity as household head with a destructive model of masculinity. It is the interaction between negative masculinities and extreme poverty that characterises the prevalence of GBV in such conditions.