DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC ROLES OF WOMEN IN NARRATIVES OF WARS AND CONFLICTS: CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL DEPICTION SOLELY AS VICTIMS IN DENIS MUKWEGE'S THE POWER OF WOMEN

Abstract

This study critically examines the prevalent depiction of female characters as vulnerable victims and marginalized bystanders in male-dominated war and conflict narratives. The aim is to deconstruct such peripheralized perceptions and highlight women as central figures—active, agential, and resilient war heroines who overcome trauma and victimhood, amplify their voices, and challenge the patriarchal structures that perpetuate gender-based violence. The primary source is drawn from selected text of Denis Mukwege's The Power of Women, while secondary sources and reference materials are drawn from journals, library resources, and internet databases. The findings reveal that despite efforts by gender-sensitive writers to portray women as active participants functioning as mothers, caregivers, breadwinners, family heads, and peace activists in militarized narratives, some narratives still perpetuate victimized representations. While this paper aims to contribute to the body of knowledge promoting gender positivity, it recommends that society makes concerted efforts to de-emphasize patriarchal and masculine hegemonic ideologies. By fostering a more inclusive and equitable cultural narrative, writers, who are products of their societies, can portray women from less biased perspectives, recognizing their full spectrum of roles and contributions in conflict situations.