Resilience in Jammu and Kashmir Conflict: Women’s Role and Socio-Political Engagement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62843/jssr.v6i3.775Keywords:
Jammu and Kashmir Conflict, Kashmiri Women, Resilience, Sacrifices, Socio-Political EngagementsAbstract
The prolonged conflict in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in a complex humanitarian and economic crisis, characterized by severe human rights violations, including killings, detentions, mass rape cases, and suppression of dissent. The women of Kashmir are frequently represented through narratives of victimhood, widowhood, violence, psychological trauma, enforced disappearances, and displacement; their resilience, participation, and contribution to sustaining families and communities have received relatively less attention. The study examines the experiences, socio-political engagement, and sacrifices of Kashmiri women living in prolonged conflict, focusing on how they have navigated conflict-related crises while contributing to family survival and community resilience. The study draws on Social Capital Theory, mainly the concepts of bonding and bridging social capital, to examine the role of social connections, collective support, and community participation in women’s responses to conflict. The study uses a qualitative approach based on human rights reports, institutional documents, and academic literature. The study explores both the plight of Kashmiri women and the form of participation and representation through which they respond to it. The findings show that the women of Kashmir have experienced significant psychological, physical, economic, and social crises, while simultaneously carrying vital responsibilities as family providers, caregivers, cultural preservers, and participants in socio-political life. The study argues that the experiences of the women in conflict cannot be solely understood through victimhood; their resilience and social participation are significant to understand how families, communities, and social connections are sustained under prolonged conflict.
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