Women In Conflict Management: How Traditional Roles And Perceptions Have Been A Hindrance
Abstract
One of the major challenges we continue to face at
the close of the twentieth century is the real
involvement of women in all sectors of society. For
a long time this has been considered as a
small issue. But with the changing world, many have
come to the realization that women just as
men have many capabilities and should take responsi
ble posts just like men if true developments,
peace have to be realized.
In many parts of the world and Kenya specifically,
despite the fact that we see women in
positions of leadership, and that many achievements
have been made due to the different roles
they play, these efforts have not been recognised a
nd in most cases they have been taken for
granted.
This may be because the peace efforts taken by wome
n are normally dismissed as simply part of
general softness of nature or as part of their moth
er wood role (Vellacott 1988). And when
women are reported in wars, it is usually as victim
s, weeping over the broken bodies of sons and
daughters in hospitals, or raped by enemy soldiers.
But rarely do we see women being reported in
the forefront as the major decision makers or leade
rs.
The paper starts from the notion that there has not
been enough involvement of women in
leadership positions especially in conflict managem
ent and that traditional roles and perceptions
have been a major hindrance to this. Secondly, the
paper proposes different ways in which
women can be actively involved if genuine and lasti
ng peace has to be achieved.
Citation
C. A. Mumma-Martinon. 2009. Women In Conflict Management: How Traditional Roles And Perceptions Have Been A Hindrance. Hakimani Jesuit Journal Of Social Justice In Eastern Africa. . (01/09, ):34–40..Publisher
University of Nairobi Political science and Public Administration