n the sphere of peacebuilding, women stand as crucial pillars, offering unique insights and skills essential for nurturing stability and cohesion within communities. Yet, the path for women peacebuilders is often strewn with a multitude of challenges that transcend their professional duties. As they navigate roles as partners, family members, mothers, working moms, and single parents, they grapple with an array of responsibilities, inevitably impacting their mental well–being and resilience.
Drawing from experience and background in peacebuilding, particularly during a fellowship at Salzburg Global Seminar as the project lead of Peace to Peacebuilders and leading consultation meetings with peacebuilders across Asia, around 20% of participants, including mothers and working moms, were engaged with—shedding light on the burdens endured by women in this field. Juggling responsibilities during the pandemic created significant stress, apart from securing the health and well–being of their immediate family. They worried about the safety of family members, especially their children, while the institutions they were connected to did not provide adequate health measures to protect them while working. This work-related stress can take a toll on the mental and emotional well–being of peacebuilders.
During the co–creation of the Peace Starts Here, and even the gathering of local peacebuilders in Bogota participating in the Shift The Power 2023 where many of its attendees were women, fellow peacebuilders articulated these burdens, particularly amidst the stress of ongoing conflicts worldwide and navigating the challenges of post–pandemic society. Many find themselves juggling diverse roles: serving as advocates, activists, campaigners, educators, politicians, funders, founders, organizers, partners, journalists, writers, mothers, and professionals simultaneously. This intricate balancing act exacts a heavy toll on their mental and emotional resources, often leading to burnout—a reality shared by women across various sectors, including development, humanitarian, medical, political, economic, and security, who strive to rebuild and sustain peace in conflict–affected communities.
People often expect women peacebuilders to be their saviors. In response to the lack of support systems and safe spaces to discuss the mental toll that stress, anxiety, and post–traumatic syndrome have caused on their mental well–being, many women were inspired to start the change within their institutions—establishing small groups to facilitate discussions on sensitive and personal issues like mental health, post–pandemic issues, armed and climate crises, and even gender–based violence. This, in turn, opens up space for a positive support network of resilient women—supporting and uplifting other women who are undergoing difficult situations, practicing mindfulness, and scheduling wellness retreats.
Let's dissect these struggles encapsulated in the acronym WOMEN:
Women Leaders
In peacebuilding, women leaders often confront gendered expectations that undermine their authority and fuel imposter syndrome. The perpetual need to validate themselves in male–dominated spaces corrodes their confidence over time. In the international arena, women are criticized for various aspects of their leadership, from their personal lives to their leadership styles. Whenever women become outspoken, they are criticized as masculinized without maternal instinct—an iron fist, some would say. The public will then bombard them with inappropriate comments and even bring their personal lives into question.
Overwhelming Expectations
The commitment to peacebuilding demands substantial time and energy, straining personal relationships. Partners may struggle to comprehend the demands of this pursuit, leading to communication breakdowns and emotional detachment. In many documented data across the world, women carry a heavy burden in times of crises and conflicts. The shift in gender roles, coupled with the rising gender–based violence resulting from these crises, adds mental stress.
Motherhood and Peacebuilding
For women peacebuilders who are also mothers, the challenge is compounded. Pursuing peace may necessitate travel, exposing them to danger and prolonged separations from their families. Balancing motherhood with peacebuilding often triggers guilt and internal conflict, impacting mental well–being.
Exhaustion of Working Moms
Working moms among peacebuilders face societal scrutiny regarding their ability to excel in both career and family life. Striving for perfection in both domains escalates stress and anxiety, jeopardizing mental health.
Navigating Single Motherhood
Single mothers are the least heard of and not even talked about in the realm of peacebuilding. They acquire twice the mental and emotional fatigue than their peers—bearing sole responsibility for familial support while engaging in demanding peacebuilding work. The security risks of putting themselves on the frontline and the risks of sacrificing themselves while serving others add to their stress.
The manifold burdens faced by women—be they as leaders, partners, family members, mothers, working moms, or single mothers—cast shadows on their mental well–being and resilience. Addressing these challenges is vital not only for individuals but also for the communities they serve. Initiatives supporting women's mental health, providing resources, nurturing supportive networks, and challenging gender norms are crucial for their sustained success in peacebuilding. By acknowledging and actively addressing these challenges, we empower women peacebuilders to thrive professionally and personally—enriching peacebuilding efforts with resilience and sustainability.
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Women peacebuilders continue to navigate gendered challenges
Image taken from the Salzburg Global Seminar Asia Peace Innovators Forum, September 2022. Courtesy of Jamila-Aisha Sanguila.
March 7, 2024
In the peacebuilding space, women act as crucial pillars. Yet their path is strewn with challenges that transcend their professional duties, gender–specific challenges that hurt their effectiveness, and wear away at their mental and physical health, writes Jamila–Aisha Sanguila..
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n the sphere of peacebuilding, women stand as crucial pillars, offering unique insights and skills essential for nurturing stability and cohesion within communities. Yet, the path for women peacebuilders is often strewn with a multitude of challenges that transcend their professional duties. As they navigate roles as partners, family members, mothers, working moms, and single parents, they grapple with an array of responsibilities, inevitably impacting their mental well–being and resilience.
Drawing from experience and background in peacebuilding, particularly during a fellowship at Salzburg Global Seminar as the project lead of Peace to Peacebuilders and leading consultation meetings with peacebuilders across Asia, around 20% of participants, including mothers and working moms, were engaged with—shedding light on the burdens endured by women in this field. Juggling responsibilities during the pandemic created significant stress, apart from securing the health and well–being of their immediate family. They worried about the safety of family members, especially their children, while the institutions they were connected to did not provide adequate health measures to protect them while working. This work-related stress can take a toll on the mental and emotional well–being of peacebuilders.
During the co–creation of the Peace Starts Here, and even the gathering of local peacebuilders in Bogota participating in the Shift The Power 2023 where many of its attendees were women, fellow peacebuilders articulated these burdens, particularly amidst the stress of ongoing conflicts worldwide and navigating the challenges of post–pandemic society. Many find themselves juggling diverse roles: serving as advocates, activists, campaigners, educators, politicians, funders, founders, organizers, partners, journalists, writers, mothers, and professionals simultaneously. This intricate balancing act exacts a heavy toll on their mental and emotional resources, often leading to burnout—a reality shared by women across various sectors, including development, humanitarian, medical, political, economic, and security, who strive to rebuild and sustain peace in conflict–affected communities.
People often expect women peacebuilders to be their saviors. In response to the lack of support systems and safe spaces to discuss the mental toll that stress, anxiety, and post–traumatic syndrome have caused on their mental well–being, many women were inspired to start the change within their institutions—establishing small groups to facilitate discussions on sensitive and personal issues like mental health, post–pandemic issues, armed and climate crises, and even gender–based violence. This, in turn, opens up space for a positive support network of resilient women—supporting and uplifting other women who are undergoing difficult situations, practicing mindfulness, and scheduling wellness retreats.
Let's dissect these struggles encapsulated in the acronym WOMEN:
Women Leaders
In peacebuilding, women leaders often confront gendered expectations that undermine their authority and fuel imposter syndrome. The perpetual need to validate themselves in male–dominated spaces corrodes their confidence over time. In the international arena, women are criticized for various aspects of their leadership, from their personal lives to their leadership styles. Whenever women become outspoken, they are criticized as masculinized without maternal instinct—an iron fist, some would say. The public will then bombard them with inappropriate comments and even bring their personal lives into question.
Overwhelming Expectations
The commitment to peacebuilding demands substantial time and energy, straining personal relationships. Partners may struggle to comprehend the demands of this pursuit, leading to communication breakdowns and emotional detachment. In many documented data across the world, women carry a heavy burden in times of crises and conflicts. The shift in gender roles, coupled with the rising gender–based violence resulting from these crises, adds mental stress.
Motherhood and Peacebuilding
For women peacebuilders who are also mothers, the challenge is compounded. Pursuing peace may necessitate travel, exposing them to danger and prolonged separations from their families. Balancing motherhood with peacebuilding often triggers guilt and internal conflict, impacting mental well–being.
Exhaustion of Working Moms
Working moms among peacebuilders face societal scrutiny regarding their ability to excel in both career and family life. Striving for perfection in both domains escalates stress and anxiety, jeopardizing mental health.
Navigating Single Motherhood
Single mothers are the least heard of and not even talked about in the realm of peacebuilding. They acquire twice the mental and emotional fatigue than their peers—bearing sole responsibility for familial support while engaging in demanding peacebuilding work. The security risks of putting themselves on the frontline and the risks of sacrificing themselves while serving others add to their stress.
The manifold burdens faced by women—be they as leaders, partners, family members, mothers, working moms, or single mothers—cast shadows on their mental well–being and resilience. Addressing these challenges is vital not only for individuals but also for the communities they serve. Initiatives supporting women's mental health, providing resources, nurturing supportive networks, and challenging gender norms are crucial for their sustained success in peacebuilding. By acknowledging and actively addressing these challenges, we empower women peacebuilders to thrive professionally and personally—enriching peacebuilding efforts with resilience and sustainability.
