Abstract Book of the 6th International Conference on Gender Studies and Sexuality
Year: 2025
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Gender, Power, and Gender Resistance in Rwanda
Manirafasha Jean De La Paix
ABSTRACT:
This research describes the intersection of gender, power, and resistance within the sociopolitical context of Rwanda, detailing the transformative functions women have contributed in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. In the wake of unprecedented national trauma, Rwandan women appeared as central actors in state-led rebuilding and grassroots resistance changes. The examination indicates how gender changes have facilitated political participation, telling a remarkable story that saw women rise from historically marginalized positions to hold over 60% of parliamentary seats as the highest worldwide. This modification is not merely symbolic; it highlights wider societal changes in gender relations, access to power, and the renaissance of citizenship and leadership. In addition, the paper examines how women’s activism, especially at the grassroots level, challenged the extensive regime sphere, led to justice and reconciliation processes, and strengthened societal flexibility. This review shows the differences in empowerment and structural constraints by surveying governmental strategies, civil society incentives, and the lived experiences of female leaders and activists. It was approved that while women’s increased visibility in governance has been advanced as a sign of gender equity, it must be critically distinguished in light of wider questions about agency, government control, and the politics of representation. Eventually, the research underscores the significance of gender-sensitive foundations in interpretations of post-conflict reconstruction and political resistance in contemporary Rwanda.
Keywords: agency, empowerment, governance, post-conflict, representation