Does War Empower Women? Evidence from Timor Leste

Abstract

Conflicts may change the material conditions and the incentives individuals face through death, displacement and other consequences of violence. Being a victim of a war can also profoundly change individual beliefs, values and preferences (Bellows and Miguel 2009). Several counts have linked violent conflicts – including the two world wars – to changes in the roles of women, as well as social norms and beliefs towards gender roles within societies. The aim of this paper is to investigate the medium- and long-term consequences of a long-lasting conflict – the Timor Leste conflict – on various dimensions of women’s empowerment.