Description
This paper will explore the role of silence in a turbulent world, made worse by the rise of a world pandemic in 2020. Much of my work has focused on masculinity, gender relations and gender hierarchies with a focus on security and development in conflict zones. More recently I have begun to explore silence not simply as a sign of disempowerment, but also as a powerful force that can operate in many ways. This approach enables a more multi-levelled understanding of silence and voice around the world. It has much to tell us about the Global North, where we prize voice and often underestimate the power of silence. By bringing a more global perspective to this argument, the impact of cultural practices and differences expand our understanding of specific cases, and highlights the importance of investigating the various ways silence and voice play out around the world.
