"This Patriarchal, Machista and Unequal Culture of Ours": Obstacles to Confronting Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

Abstract

Prior research has established that conflict-related sexual violence against women is anchored in patriarchal norms and practices that assert gendered hierarchies. What remains relatively underresearched, however, is how patriarchal structures shape individual, social, and institutional responses to conflict-related sexual violence and its victims. This article sets out to shed light on this question, identifying different social and institutional processes that impede efforts to confront conflict-related sexual violence. The analysis of interviews with Colombian civil society activists illustrates how patriarchal norms and practices normalize sexual violence in society, but also ostracize, stigmatize, and ultimately seek to silence its victims. This risks obliterating conflict-related sexual violence from the political map and severely undermines the pursuit of justice. Power imbalances disadvantaging and further marginalizing the victims permeate these processes. Civil society organizations play an important role in reclaiming power for the victims, by overcoming disabling silences, making sexual violence visible, and confronting harmful patriarchal practices.