PRIO Network

Gender


Coordinator: Helga Hernes

How armed conflict affects men and women differently

​Research at PRIO on gender, peace and conflict addresses the different effects of armed conflict on men and women, men’s and women’s different security needs, and their different capacities for peacebuilding. It studies the gendered character of perceptions, values and experiences, and the ways in which these shape understandings of conflict. We seek to be at the forefront of both conceptual and empirical research in the field. We employ a broad array of research methodologies, ranging from fieldwork, statistical methods and interview studies to textual study and theory development.

Our research is guided by a focus on academic excellence. Engaging with the foremost international researchers and research institutions in Europe, Africa and the Americas strengthens our ability to provide policy advice to governments and others. Gender, peace and conflict research at PRIO benefits from close ties with other research environments and institutions, both in Norway and abroad.

Background
War and peace are gendered. Men and women bring differing values, perceptions and experiences to conflict, and gender differences shape the ways in which wars are fought and peace is built. Masculinity and femininity overlap in complex ways in both military operations and peacebuilding. These challenges, however, have generally been inadequately addressed in traditional research in peace and conflict studies. Men’s perceptions, experiences and values have been routinely prioritized, both by researchers and by policymakers. The perceptions and experiences of women have received far more limited attention.

This situation is changing, however, and gendered imbalances have begun to receive more attention. Policymakers and academics increasingly see the value of analysing peace and conflict situations through a gendered optic. The picture that emerges reveals a more nuanced image of conflict, along with new resources for peacebuilding. The most important expression of this change is the unanimous adoption in October 2000 of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This resolution stresses the importance of women’s equal and full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security. Particular emphasis is placed on the need to increase the role of women in conflict prevention and conflict resolution activities.

 

Peer-reviewed-Journal-Article

Skjelsbæk, Inger (2012) Responsibility to Protect or Prevent? Victims and Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Crimes in Armed Conflicts , Global Responsibility to Protect 4(2): 154–171.
Skjelsbæk, Inger; & Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2011) Kvinner i det norske forsvaret: Likestilling eller operasjonelt imperativ? [Women in the Norwegian Armed Forces: Gender Equality or Operational Imperative?] , Sosiologi I Dag 41(1): 53–75.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2010) The Elephant in the Room: An Overview of How Sexual Violence came to be Seen as a Weapon of War .
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2010) The UN Peacebuilding Commission and Gender: A Case of Norm Reinforcement , International Peacekeeping 17(2): 159–171.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2009) Trick or Treat? The UN and Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security , Global Governance 15(4): 539–557.
Skjelsbæk, Inger; & Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2009) Women in the Norwegian Armed Forces. Gender Equality or Operational Imperative? , Minerva Journal of Women and War 3(2): 34–51.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2009) Traditions and Transitions: Perceptions of 'Good Womanhood' Among Twenty Bosnian Focus Group Participants , International Feminist Journal of Politics 11(3): 392–411.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2009) Kjønnsbasert vold i krig: Hvordan få god kunnskap og på hvilken måte? [Gender Based Violence in War: How to get good knowlede and in which ways?] , Sociologi I Dag 39(2): 72–90.
Simkus, Albert (2007) Cross-National Differences in the Western Balkans in Three Dimensions of Attitudes: Ethnic Exclusionism, Gender Role Conservatism, and Conservative Sexual Mores , International Journal of Sociology 37(3): 15–31.
Plümper, Thomas; & Neumayer, Eric (2006) The Unequal Burden of War: The Effect of Armed Conflict on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy , International Organization 60(3): 723–754.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2006) Victim and Survivor: Narrated Social Identities of Women Who Experienced Rape During the War in Bosnia-Herzegovina , Feminism and Psychology 16(4): 373–403.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2006) Therapeutic Work With Victims of Sexual Violence in War and Postwar: A Discourse Analysis of Bosnian Experiences , Peace & Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology 12(2): 93–118.
Skjelsbæk, Inger;Hostens, Karen; & Barth, Elise Fredrikke (2003) Gender Aspects of Conflict Interventions: Policy Implications of Studies of the TIPH, UNMEE and SFOR .

Monograph

Skjelsbæk, Inger (2011) The Political Psychology of War Rape: Studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina. : Routledge. War, Politics and Experience.

Book Chapter

Skjelsbæk, Inger(2012) Conceptualizing Sexual Violence Perpetrators in War Understanding and Proving International Sex Crimes. : Torkel Opsahl Academic Epublisher(495–509).
Skjelsbæk, Inger(2011) Sexual Violence in the Post-Yugoslav Wars Women and War: Power and Protection In the 21St Century. : United States Institute of Peace Press(65–84).
Kjellman, Kjell Erling; & Wallacher, Hilde(2008) Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations : .
Wallacher, Hilde; & Kjellman, Kjell Erling(2008) Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Conflict Situations : .
Skjelsbæk, Inger(2008) Kjønn og vold i krigssonen Kjønn, Krig Og Konflikt. : .
Tryggestad, Torunn L.(2008) Kvinner, fred og sikkerhet - en ny dagsorden i FN [Women, Peace and Security - A New UN Agenda] Kjønn, Krig Og Konflikt. : .
Syse, Henrik(2008) Krigens etikk - bare for menn? [Ethics of War - for Men Only?] Kjønn, Krig, Konflikt - Jubileumsbok Til Helga Hernes. : (92–102).

Edited Volume

Skjelsbæk, Inger;Anderlini, Sanam;Jean Wood, Elizabeth;Brück, Tilman;Vothknecht, Marc; & Steinberg, Donald, eds, (2011) Women and War: Power and Protection in the 21st Century. : United States Institute of Peace. .
(2008) Kjønn, Krig og Konflikt. : .
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Karamé, Kari, eds, (2000) Gender Perspectives on Peace and Conflict Studies. : .

Non-refereed_Journal_Article

Wallacher, Hilde (2009) Gender in Community Consultations , The Journal of ERW and Mine Action 12(2): –.
Carling, Jørgen (2005) Trafficking in Women from Nigeria to Europe , Migration Information Source .
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2003) The Role of Gender in South Asian Conflict Zones , Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology 9(4): 387–389.

Popular Article

Skjelsbæk, Inger; & Harpviken, Kristian Berg (2011) Gledelig Fredspris [A Peace Prize to Celebrate], Dagbladet, 7 October.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2011) Kvinners kropp som slagmark [Women's Bodies as Battlefields], UNICEF Magasinet, February.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2007) Kvinner i Kamp [Women in Battle], Morgenbladet, 24 August.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Skjelsbæk, Inger (2005) Det kvinnelige sikkerhetsbegrep [The Female Concept of Security], Morgenbladet, 2 December.

Conference Paper

Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum 2012 Identification and Financial Inclusion: Gendering the biometric enrolment of homeless in Delhi, presented at 2012 annual NFU conference: Development for a Finite Planet: Grassroots perspectives and responses to climate change, resource extraction and economic development, , .
Schjølset, Anita 2010 The Gender Gap in the Armed Forces: Exploring Female Representation Across NATO Countries, presented at International Studies Association (ISA), , 18 February.
Urdal, Henrik 2010 Civil War and Gender Inequalities in Health: The Influence of War on Fertility, presented at International Studies Association, , 17 February.

PRIO Policy Brief

Nordås, Ragnhild (2013) Preventing Conflict-related Sexual Violence 2. : PRIO.
Cohen, Dara Kay; & Nordås, Ragnhild (2012) Sexual Violence by Militias in African Conflicts: Not a question of ‘delegation’ by states 1. : CSCW.
Cohen, Dara Kay; & Nordås, Ragnhild (2012) Sexual Violence in African Conflicts, 1989–2009: What the data show 2. : CSCW.
Nordås, Ragnhild (2012) Sexual Violence on the Decline? Recent debates and evidence suggest ‘unlikely’ 3. : CSCW.
Wallacher, Hilde (2012) The Abatangamuco - Engaging men for Women's Empowerment in Burundi 5. : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2010) The UN Peacebuilding Commission and Women: What Role for Norway? 12. : PRIO.
Chun, Suk; & Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2010) Ten Years of Women, Peace and Security: Observing the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) 6. : PRIO.
Schjølset, Anita (2010) Closing the Gender Gap in the Armed Forces: The Varying Success of Recruitment and Retention Strategies in NATO 4. : PRIO.
Chun, Suk; & Skjelsbæk, Inger (2010) Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts 1. : PRIO.

PRIO Paper

Wallacher, Hilde (2012) Engaging Men - The Abatangamuco and Women's Empowerment in Burundi, PRIO Paper, : PRIO.
Mochmann, Ingvill C.; & Haavardsson, Ingeborg K. (2012) The Legacy of War Time Rape: Mapping Key Concepts and Issues, PRIO Paper, : PRIO.
Schjølset, Anita (2010) NATO and the Women: Exploring the Gender Gap in the Armed Forces, PRIO Paper, : PRIO.
Ormhaug, Christin Marsh;Meier, Patrick; & Hernes, Helga (2009) Armed Conflict Deaths Disaggregated by Gender, PRIO Paper, : PRIO.
Dupuy, Kendra (2008) Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action: The Ethiopian Case, PRIO Paper, : PRIO.
Skjelsbæk, Inger (2007) Gender Aspects of International Military Interventions: National and International Perspectives, PRIO Paper, September. : PRIO.

Report Other

Kolås, Åshild (2012) Gender, Empowerment and Conflict: Experiences from Northeast India: PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Skjelsbæk, Inger (2007) Kvinner i Forsvaret og implementering av FNs Sikkerhetsrådsresolusjon 1325 om kvinner, fred og sikkerhet: Potensial, status og anbefalte tiltak [Women in the Norwegian Armed Forces and Implementation of UN SC Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security: Potential, status and recommendations ], Report commissioned by the Defence Study 2007, : .

Report External Series

Carling, Jørgen (2005) Gender Dimensions of International Migration, Global Migration Perspectives, 35. : .

PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update

Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Lorentzen, Jenny Kathrine (2012) Claims About Global Decline in Sexual Violence Spark Debate, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2012: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Lorentzen, Jenny Kathrine (2012) Gender, Empowerment and Conflict in South Asia, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2012: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Lorentzen, Jenny Kathrine (2012) Engaging Men for Women's Empowerment, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2012: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.;Lorentzen, Jenny Kathrine; & Berggrav, Halvor (2012) The Political Psychology of War Rape, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2012: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Berggrav, Halvor (2011) Nobel Days in Oslo, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2011: : PRIO.
Wallacher, Hilde; & Tryggestad, Torunn L. (2011) UN Special Rapporteur Margot Wallström Visits PRIO, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2011: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Wallacher, Hilde (2011) New Strategic Plan on Women, Peace and Security launched by Norwegian MFA, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2011: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Chun, Suk (2010) 'Women's Inclusion Has Become a Global Security Imperative', PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2010: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Chun, Suk (2010) 'Does Affirmative Action Make a Change?', PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2010: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Chun, Suk (2010) Mythbusting: Are Women the Main Victims of Armed Conflict?, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2010: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Chun, Suk (2010) 'Women Count for Peace', PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2010: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Chun, Suk (2010) 'We Want Strong Links to Civil Society', PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2010: : PRIO.
Tryggestad, Torunn L.; & Chun, Suk (2010) Men Must Get Involved in Fighting Violence Against Women, PRIO Gender-Peace-Security-Update, 2010: : PRIO.