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Conflict is often described in terms of territory, politics, and power. Yet beneath every headline and every battlefield lies a quieter, deeper fault line—gender inequality. It is not merely a side effect of war; it is a force that shapes how conflict unfolds, who suffers most, and who is allowed to rebuild when the violence subsides. Understanding gender inequality in conflict is not an academic exercise. It is a moral and strategic necessity.
Gender inequality doesn’t just harm women—it weakens entire societies. When half the population is denied rights, opportunities, and safety, the whole community becomes more fragile. This fragility creates the perfect conditions for conflict to grow. Gender inequality is not just a social injustice; it is a structural imbalance that fuels tension, weakens institutions, and creates the conditions in which conflict becomes more likely.
Gender inequality often intensifies ethnic or communal conflicts by rendering women vulnerable to exploitation as instruments of violence, while simultaneously excluding them from decision-making processes. In patriarchal societies, women may become symbolic targets—representing the “honor” of their community—leading to gendered violence as a deliberate tactic to humiliate and dominate opposing groups. This dynamic not only perpetuates cycles of retaliation but also sidelines women’s voices, limiting opportunities for peacebuilding and resolution.
The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo, exemplifies this interplay. Rooted in disputes over land rights, Scheduled Tribe status, resource allocation, illegal immigration, and drugs, the violence has claimed over 260 lives, displaced thousands, and witnessed recurring clashes.
A stark manifestation of gender inequality in this conflict is the use of women as tools of warfare by both warring communities. Sexual and gender-based violence has been weaponized, with reports of rapes, gang rapes, public humiliations, and assaults targeting women from opposing groups. The most infamous incident, captured in a viral video from May 2023, showed two Kuki-Zo women being paraded naked, groped, and sexually assaulted by a mob of Meitei men in Kangpokpi district.
Similar allegations of sexual violence against Meitei women by Kuki groups have also surfaced, highlighting how both sides have employed such acts to inflict psychological trauma, assert dominance, and exact revenge. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and UN experts, have documented these abuses as systematic patterns, functioning as “weapons of war” to terrorize and displace communities.
Tragically, in January 2026, a young woman who was abducted and gang-raped on May 15, 2023, during the early days of the ethnic clashes, succumbed to her injuries after a nearly three-year struggle. Although she survived the initial assault, she never fully recovered. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into her case remained stalled, with no arrests made. Her death without accountability underscores the enduring consequences of gendered violence and how unresolved atrocities perpetuate cycles of grief and resentment.
Compounding this vulnerability is women’s systemic lack of decision-making power within Manipur’s patriarchal structures, spanning both Meitei and Kuki societies. Traditional leadership institutions—such as Meitei community organizations and Kuki chieftainships—remain male-dominated, marginalizing women from political and conflict-resolution forums.
Even vocal women activists or protesters often operate within patriarchal boundaries, framing their advocacy around protecting community “honor” or family rather than directly challenging gender hierarchies. While this approach may secure social acceptance, it reinforces their exclusion from core negotiations, peace talks, and policymaking. As a result, conflicts persist without inclusive perspectives capable of prioritizing de-escalation and reconciliation.
Gender inequality often begins at the micro-level of individual households, where patriarchal norms dictate unequal power relations, resource allocation, and opportunities. In a typical Manipur household—whether Meitei or Kuki—inequality may appear in boys receiving preferential access to education, nutrition, and inheritance, while girls are burdened with domestic labour, early marriage, or restricted mobility.
Domestic violence, frequently dismissed as a “private matter,” further entrenches women’s subordination. These dynamics teach younger generations that gender-based control is acceptable, fostering a culture of silence and compliance. Women internalize their diminished status early, limiting aspirations and agency.
As these patterns repeat across families, they evolve into community-wide norms. Male-dominated decision-making bodies—such as village councils in Kuki areas or leikai committees among Meiteis—exclude women, reinforcing collective behaviours that privilege male authority. Over time, inequality is normalized through customs, folklore, and education, objectifying women as bearers of family or ethnic “honor.”
At the institutional level, these norms shape governance and policy outcomes. In Manipur, constitutional protections exist but are weakly enforced due to cultural bias. Women remain underrepresented in politics and ethnic leadership, while gender-based violence is underreported or dismissed. Economic inequality compounds this vulnerability, as limited access to land and employment increases dependency and volatility during crises.
During periods of ethnic tension, such as the current conflict, these inequalities intensify. Household-taught notions of “honor” transform women into symbolic battlegrounds, where violence against them provokes retaliatory cycles. Excluded from leadership, women are unable to mediate or advocate for peace, allowing male-dominated groups to escalate violence unchecked. The result is a feedback loop—violence deepens inequality, displacement disrupts education and livelihoods, and localized grievances spiral into state-wide breakdown, as witnessed since May 2023.
Ultimately, addressing Manipur’s crisis requires confronting its underlying gender inequalities. This includes impartial prosecution of sexual violence, meaningful inclusion of women in governance and peace processes, and dismantling norms that treat women as collateral or instruments in ethnic conflict. Without such measures, gendered violence will continue to fuel instability, demonstrating how unchecked inequality at the household level can unravel the social fabric of an entire society.
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