dc.description.abstract | Refugee women’s contribution towards the realization of peace is undeniably critical and visible,
yet they continue to face obstacles that inhibit their full participation in the existing peacebuilding
structures and initiatives in Kakuma Refugee Camp. While numerous studies examine various
factors preventing women from participating in peace processes in refugee camp set-up,
foundational patriarchal structure and norms remains an important element to this study. The
feminization and masculinization discourse that defines men as soldiers and protectors and women
as victims needing protection, significantly influences the conceptualization of this study. Kakuma
Refugee Camp represents a post conflict context where changes in gender roles are exhibited. Such
changes compel women to assume more roles including those considered masculine and a preserve
of men, such as protectors and heads of households. This, compounded with the fact that
organizations working in the Camp develop empowerment programs focused on women to support
them execute their new found roles, causes the men to feel left out, disempowered, even
emasculated. Therefore, in a bid to reclaim and retain their domain of power and control over
women, men employ strategies that inhibit women’s involvement in the peacebuilding system and
initiative in Kakuma. Employing the hegemonic masculinity theories, this study reveals that
indeed men employ various direct and indirect strategies aimed at curtailing women’s participation
in peace building structures and initiatives in the camp. This study employed a qualitative survey
methodology. Literature reviews and interviews with members of camp leadership and community
peacebuilding structures as well as key peace actors, use of case studies and participatory
observation, confirmed that indeed women make valuable contributions to the peacebuilding
system and activities in Kakuma Camp. Yet, they continue to face substantive impediments that
cause some of them to disengage from peace building platforms. Those women who proceed to
participate in the peace processes are excluded from the critical stages of peace negotiation and
settlement. Whereas knowledge concerning the multifaceted factors that cause the exclusion of
women in peace building processes remains anecdotal, these findings forms a critical addition to
the evolving literature on women, patriarchy and peacebuilding discourse aimed at increasing their
meaningful engagement. | en_US |