Gender and Conflict in Africa: Beyond Stereotypes to Analytical Reflections

This chapter conceptualizes a gender perspective to conflict resolution, investigating some of the gender-sensitive conflict management styles, and describing the roles that women play in conflict. Some mainstream discourses which are instrumentalist in approach, see women as instrumental in bringing about sustainable peace, which is paramount in achieving sustainable development goals. We use a qualitative research approach by reviewing documentations and case studies on gender and conflict in Southern Cameroon. The qualitative analysis reveals that women's leadership travails across sectors. We conclude that ignoring gendered power relations and inequalities can lead to a misunderstanding of the fundamentals of conflict for sustainable peace-building. Again, portraying women as primary victims tends to obscure women's agency thus undermining their potentials in peace-building. We recommend some salient choices to position women as veritable instruments for peace and development.