Gendered Political Violence

Research examining gender and political violence is an expanding field of study. Two key foci and concepts permeate existing scholarship: (1) research examining violence perpetrated on women political actors, primarily because they are women—the violence against women in politics (VAWIP) concept; and (2) research examining men’s and women’s experiences of political violence to distinguish between general violence and violence that is gendered in its motivation, form and consequences—the gendered aspect of political violence
(GAPV) concept. As succinctly summarized by Sofia Collignon, while violence that specifically targets women in politics is motivated by a desire to exclude women from politics, political violence that is gendered in its form, motivation, and consequences serves to reinforce male dominance and gender norms. This entry presents a brief overview of each concept, as well as a brief review of existing scholarship, to identify trends and features of gendered political violence. It concludes by discussing some of the implications of gendered political violence.