The Silent Struggles of Displaced Women: Gender Gaps, Violence, and Solutions

The research explores the gendered impacts of forced displacement, highlighting economic barriers, gender-based violence risks, and shifting social norms faced by displaced women. It calls for gender-sensitive policies in humanitarian aid, economic inclusion, and data collection to address these inequalities effectively.

The World Bank-UNHCR Gender Dimensions of Forced Displacement research project, in collaboration with institutions such as Humboldt University of Berlin, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, the Brookings Institution, and the International Security and Development Center, examines how gender inequality shapes the experiences of forcibly displaced persons (FDPs). By the end of 2023, the global count of FDPs reached 117.3 million, including 43.4 million refugees and 68.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The vast majority reside in low- and middle-income countries such as Iran, Turkey, Colombia, Germany, and Pakistan. Women and children make up a significant portion of these displaced populations, and in certain crises, such as Ukraine, a higher percentage of women than men have been displaced. Despite the critical role gender plays in shaping displacement experiences, gender-disaggregated data remains limited. However, past crises in Bosnia (1995), South Sudan (2016), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2017) confirm that displacement disproportionately affects women, reinforcing economic vulnerabilities and exposing them to higher risks of exploitation, unemployment, and violence.

Gender Power Dynamics and Social Norms in Displacement

The research underscores how entrenched social norms and power structures continue to shape gender roles in displacement settings. These norms influence household decision-making, employment, education, access to healthcare, and exposure to gender-based violence (GBV). In some cases, displacement allows women to take on new economic responsibilities, while in others, it reinforces patriarchal control over their lives. Studies from Colombia, Jordan, Liberia, and South Sudan reveal how gender norms evolve in post-displacement scenarios. In post-conflict Liberia, women assumed leadership positions in agriculture and politics, while in South Sudan, displaced Nuer women began negotiating bridewealth payments, traditionally a male responsibility. However, in many cases, displaced women remain excluded from financial decision-making and face severe limitations on mobility and workforce participation. This paradox underscores the need for tailored policies that acknowledge both the risks and opportunities that displacement presents for gender equality.

The Shadow of Gender-Based Violence

The study highlights the elevated risks of gender-based violence (GBV) among forcibly displaced women, including intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence, and child marriage. Research conducted in Colombia, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) provides some of the first large-scale quantitative evidence of increased GBV risks among displaced women. Findings suggest that forcibly displaced women in Colombia and Liberia face 36% and 55% greater odds, respectively, of experiencing IPV compared to non-displaced women. In DRC, experiences of war-related atrocities and displacement were found to be major risk factors for both IPV and sexual violence, not only by armed groups but also by family members and civilians. This expands the understanding of how conflict disrupts social protections, leaving women vulnerable to multiple layers of violence in displacement settings. These findings stress the urgent need for specialized GBV prevention and response programs that provide safe spaces, mental health support, and legal assistance for displaced women and girls.

Women's Economic Struggles in Displacement

Economic opportunities for displaced women remain severely constrained, with greater barriers to employment than both host-community women and displaced men. Legal restrictions, lack of documentation, and entrenched gender norms prevent many displaced women from entering formal labor markets. In Jordan, despite the government issuing work permits to Syrian refugees, only 5% of permits went to women. In Darfur, displaced women were found to be more likely to work than their host-community counterparts, demonstrating that displacement can sometimes create new economic roles. However, displaced women overwhelmingly engage in low-paying, informal, and unstable jobs, increasing their vulnerability to workplace exploitation and violence. Displacement can force women into economic precarity, especially when they are sole breadwinners due to the loss of male family members or household separation during conflict. Policies aimed at enhancing financial inclusion, vocational training, and childcare support could significantly improve displaced women's economic stability.

Rethinking Poverty: A Gendered Perspective

A Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) analysis conducted across Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan highlights that displaced populations experience higher poverty rates than non-displaced groups. However, the severity of poverty varies across contexts. In Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan, non-displaced populations suffer higher poverty intensity, while in other regions, displacement leads to greater economic vulnerability. Interestingly, research challenges the stereotype that female-headed households are always the poorest, as their economic status depends on various social and economic factors rather than just gender alone. Addressing poverty among displaced women requires holistic interventions, such as financial aid programs, social protections, and access to skills training. Furthermore, the lack of gender-disaggregated data on poverty and employment limits the ability to understand the economic impact of displacement on women fully.

The research in this special issue represents a significant methodological breakthrough, using large-scale, nationally representative datasets rather than relying solely on qualitative case studies. The study integrates Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), conflict event databases (ACLED, Uppsala Conflict Data Program), and geospatial analysis to map gender-specific vulnerabilities in displacement settings. These advanced research techniques provide a stronger evidence base for shaping gender-sensitive policies in humanitarian and development programs.

The findings call for urgent policy action. Governments and international organizations must integrate gender-sensitive approaches into humanitarian aid and long-term development programs. This includes expanding economic opportunities for displaced women through legal work authorization, training programs, and entrepreneurship support. The heightened risks of GBV demand the establishment of safe spaces, legal protections, and specialized mental health services. Additionally, better data collection including individual-level poverty assessments is essential for designing more targeted interventions. Gender disparities in displacement are not just a humanitarian issue but a global development challenge requiring multifaceted solutions.

The gender dimensions of forced displacement remain an understudied yet critical area of policy and academic inquiry. This research offers groundbreaking insights into how displacement impacts gender roles, economic opportunities, GBV risks, and poverty. While displacement exacerbates existing gender inequalities, it also presents opportunities for social change, particularly in reshaping gender norms and expanding women's economic roles. However, without deliberate policy interventions, these opportunities may be overshadowed by structural barriers. Addressing the gendered impact of displacement is not just about humanitarian relief, but about fostering long-term economic resilience and gender equality in displacement settings worldwide.