Gender constructs and its sociopolitical implications for Colombia’s peace process

• In Event: Gender Inequality and Education: Case Studies from Chile and Colombia

Proposal

This presentation seeks to promote a critical conversation about the gender constructs that have emerged in the peace process between the National Government of Colombia and the largest armed group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia). These constructs are aligned with militarized/demilitarized gender performances of female subjects within the armed conflict. Insights from the Colombian case represent a starting point for future academic inquiries that seek to analyze gender expectations, enactments, and dynamics in conflict contexts. In this study, gender is conceived as a historically and socially constructed category, to which societies inscribe meanings. Following Butler’s (1988) reasoning “to be a woman is to have become a woman” (p.522), this research sheds light on the possible ways in which the Colombian society is understanding, materializing, and drawing expectations regarding the category “woman” amidst the peace process. Debates on this matter must acknowledge the key role that gender discourses and representations have had in shaping women’s identities, including their social and political roles, as well as their body conceptions and enactments.

For the purposes of this examination, I have selected different media resources: (i) three videos of the demobilization campaign published by the Minister of Defense and broadcasted on national television (ii) one video from Farianas —the female-leaded FARC website— (iii) one video about women after war published by El Espectador —one of the largest and most influential newspapers in Colombia— (iv) and one article published by Revista Semana —the most influential political newsletter—. By selecting various sources and to putting them into conversation, I attempt to answer the following questions: What are the gender constructs that have emerged and developed around the peace process in Colombia? How these gender constructs might facilitate or hinder the re-socialization process of female combatants? And ultimately, What are the sociopolitical implications of such genders constructs regarding a sustainable peace? This preliminary analysis does not pretend to convey concluding statements. Rather, it aims to present critical remarks on how the Colombian society is being educated on what is “to be a woman” during and after conflict, and the extent to which such education might affect the process of building and maintaining peace. The arguments here presented seek to provoke further examinations applied to the Colombian context, or other conflict-affected areas.

References
Butler, J. (1988). Performative acts and gender constitution: An essay in phenomenology and feminist theory. Theatre Journal, 40(4), 519-531.


Author

• Daniela Romero-Amaya, Teachers College, Columbia University