The clash of violent conflict, good jobs, and gender norms in four economies

This study draws from Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan, the West Bank and Gaza and explores the relationship between violent armed conflict and gender norms. It finds that violent armed conflict sharply effects norms surrounding the economic participation and empowerment of women and men. Stressful conflict environments weaken confining gender norms and structures, allowing women to exercise more authority and independence in their household and economic lives. It also finds limited evidence that women’s empowerment alone can accelerate change for more equitable gender norms, or make local markets and institutions more receptive to initiatives which do so.