Female Perpetrators of International Crimes and The Impact of Gendered Narratives on Accountability

Abstract

Narratives play a powerful role in shaping accountability efforts. While recent scholarship has begun to complicate the image of the perpetrator in cases of mass violence, female perpetrators remain subject to deeply entrenched gendered narratives. These narratives construct women as inherently nonviolent, and when women do commit atrocities, they are often characterized by highly gendered narratives. This paper examines how gendered narratives shape understandings of female perpetrators of international crimes and how such narratives impact accountability efforts. There are three primary narratives. First, that female perpetrators are impossible. Second, that they are either lesser perpetrators or lesser women; regardless of which, they are a lesser concern. Finally, that they are not perpetrators but victims or peacemakers, other identities which overshadow the perpetrator identity. These gendered narratives impact accountability efforts in several ways. Recommendations are given to mitigate this impact.