Background Conflicts and violence are expected to increase because of stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conflicts and violence at home might amplify stay-at-home burden during the...Show moreBackground Conflicts and violence are expected to increase because of stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conflicts and violence at home might amplify stay-at-home burden during the pandemic, increasing risk for adjustment disorder. Women might experience conflicts, violence, and stay-at-home burden more likely than men, predisposing them for adjustment disorder. Objective This study aims to investigate whether conflicts/violence predict more stay-at-home burden and adjustment disorder symptoms depending on gender. It is hypothesized that stay-at-home burden mediates the positive association between conflicts/violence and adjustment disorder symptoms. Further, it is hypothesized that gender moderates this positive association between conflicts/violence and stay-at-home burden, with conflicts/violence predicting more stay-at-home burden and adjustment disorder symptoms for women than men. Methods A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted with mostly female and Dutch participants (n = 1883) from July 24th, 2020 until November 15th, 2020. Conflicts, violence, and stay-at-home burden were assessed with the self-constructed survey Burden by Corona Pandemic. Adjustment disorder symptoms were assessed with Adjustment Disorder – New Module 8. A moderated mediation analysis with “PROCESS” macro model number 7 (v4.1) was conducted. Results The moderated mediation analysis yielded non-significant results. Stay-at-home burden was not significantly mediating the positive association between conflicts/violence and adjustment disorder symptoms. Gender was not significantly moderating the positive association between conflicts/violence and stay-at-home burden. Discussion In this study, women did not report more stay-at-home burden and adjustment disorder symptoms due to conflicts and violence than men. Longitudinal studies should investigate how gender, conflicts, violence, and stay-at-home burden can impact mental health long-term during a pandemic.Show less
In the last decade, the participation of women in political violence has received an increasing amount of academic attention. However, scholars often neglected to find empirical evidence on the...Show moreIn the last decade, the participation of women in political violence has received an increasing amount of academic attention. However, scholars often neglected to find empirical evidence on the implications of women for armed groups perceived legitimacy. To fill this gap, this thesis explores the Women’s Protection Unit, which received worldwide media attention in their battle against the Islamic State, as a single case study. This thesis examines the Western perspective towards these women combatants by employing a qualitative content analysis of 43 Dutch newspaper articles. The results reveal that the media uses stereotypes about gender by framing these women combatants as non-aggressive, weaker, and less threatening than the male combatants of the Islamic State. As a result, the media legitimizes the use of violence of the female combatants as they need to protect themselves. Besides, the media glorifies the women of the YPJ by pointing out their fight for Western values, namely equality. Consequently, this thesis posits that the way the media frame the women combatants and their opponent, the Islamic State, favours the legitimacy of the armed group, the Women’s Protection Unit.Show less
Advanced master thesis | Political Science (Advanced Master)
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The crisis in Darfur is one of the world’s most significant conflicts. In the last decades, frequent drought and increasing demographic pressures are part of the forces that have pushed the region...Show moreThe crisis in Darfur is one of the world’s most significant conflicts. In the last decades, frequent drought and increasing demographic pressures are part of the forces that have pushed the region into a spiral of violence leading to a major humanitarian disaster. According to the Environmental Degradation and Conflict in Darfur Report (2009), carried out by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), Darfur illustrates the linkage between poverty, environmental degradation and conflict. However, Darfur cannot be understood merely as a conflict over resources. It is also driven by governmental deficiencies and purposeful mismanagement. The purpose of this paper is therefore to contribute to the study of the role of environmental resources in conflicts and in particular, their contribution toward the perpetuation of violence. Under what conditions does resource scarcity contribute to the perpetuation of violence?Show less
Een onderzoek naar de rol van geweld binnen organisaties met een transnationale organisatie, laat zien dat geweld gezien kan worden als extra tactiek die gebruikt kan worden door non-statelijke...Show moreEen onderzoek naar de rol van geweld binnen organisaties met een transnationale organisatie, laat zien dat geweld gezien kan worden als extra tactiek die gebruikt kan worden door non-statelijke actoren, naast traditionele soft politics-tactieken.Show less
