Unequal and Violent: Post-conflict Contexts for Women : A study on the consequences of fragmentation of the women's movement during peace processes

Previous research has not fully addressed the causal processes embedded in participation of women’s groups in peace processes, and the potential outcomes achieved by their participation. This thesis seeks to contribute to this topic by analyzing the research question under what conditions do peace processes contribute to unequal and dangerous societies for women? And the theorized relationship is that ‘the presence of fragmentation of the women’s movement during peace negotiations tends to result in higher prevalence of inequality and violence against women in post-conflict societies’, because fragmentation will contribute to upholding patriarchal norms that facilitate violence towards women through portraying men as top-dogs and women as under-dogs. Structured Focused Comparison is the method used, and questionnaires are developed for fragmentation and post-conflict inequality and violence against women. Two cases are studied and compared: Guatemala and Chiapas in Mexico. The findings show very little support for the hypothesis, although the results are inconclusive