The double insult

Explaining gender differences in the psychological consequences of war

Bibliographic Data

ID12439716
AuthorsBlerina Kellezi (0000-0003-4825-3624, Andrews University, corresponding author), Stephen Reicher (0000-0002-3449-0082, Andrews University)
Year2014
Volume20
Issue4
Pages491-504
Publication date2014-07-14
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePeace and Conflict Journal of Peace Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1078-1919 • E-ISSN: 1532-7949
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/pac0000043
OpenAlexW2335746367
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited24

Although women have been shown to be at higher mental health risk following the experience of extreme events in war, this phenomenon is not fully understood. In the present study, we investigate the role of gender norms in determining the interpretation of events and the degree of social support given to victims. Thirty-eight survivors from the Kosovo conflict in 1999 were interviewed and data was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. The findings suggest that events which are seen as affirming gender norms (such as men who were injured in fighting the enemy) evoke pride in the victim and support from the community whereas events that are seen as undermining gender norms (such as women who are sexually assaulted) evoke shame in the victim and rejection by the community. Women, we suggest, are psychologically vulnerable both because they are more likely than men to experience identity undermining events and also because the consequences of such events are more severe for women than men

Developmental psychology · Insult · Political science · Health and Conflict Studies · Law · Migration, Health and Trauma · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Psychology · Social Psychology

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