The way we talk about sexual violence : beyond a gender normative understanding of sexual violence in global politics

Abstract

Conflict-related sexual violence has received increasing attention in global politics the past decades through an increasing body of research on the subject matter as well as efforts to combat the issue through international political and legal instruments. The portrayal of conflict- related sexual violence is often to consider men as perpetrators of sexual violence against women. This dissertation seeks to broaden the understanding of conflict-related sexual violence beyond such a gender-normative approach. The aim is to identify to what extent there is a gendered treatment of conflict-related sexual violence in discourse held at the United Nations Security Council as well as in academic articles prominent journals of International Relations. This dissertation examines possible explanations for such a gender treatment. Also examines potential implications of gendered treatment of conflict-related sexual and discuss potential explanations for the existence of gender treatment trough a limited body of research on conflict- related sexual violence beyond a gender normative approach.