Monash Warwick Alliance Accelerator Fund – October 2018 Round

In the immediate aftermath of conflict, much of the labour to support households is carried out by women and girls, and as infrastructure deteriorates because of a lack of investment, the pressures on women’s health and well-being increase and their participation in public life decreases.

The state provisioning of social infrastructure at this time, via macroeconomic and social reform policies, often does not reflect the gender specific impacts of these policies. This leads to what has been called ‘depletion through social reproduction’, which occurs when the gap between the outflows —domestic, affective and reproductive labour — and the inflows — medical care, income earned and leisure time — falls below a threshold of biological, financial and affective sustainability.

Professor True, Monash University and Professor Rai, University of Warwick will lead a team from both institutions to pilot research which will explore the impact of social reproductive costs in the absence of a well-developed social infrastructure supporting women within households in the face of conflict and displacement. The pilot will clarify concepts, develop research networks on the ground, and help us ask better questions towards further research. It will also inform analysis of the challenges and the opportunities in times of transition from conflict for gender sensitive economic reform, taking seriously women’s agency and potential.

This project has the potential to transform models of post-conflict recovery and reform, shaping new policies and interventions for governments and international agencies that will contribute to lasting peace and inclusive economic prosperity.

Principal Applicants:

Professor Jacqui True Professor, School of Social Science Monash University	Professor Shirin Rai Professor, Department of Politics and International Studies University of Warwick

Co-Applicants:

Dr Samanthi Gunawardana Senior Lecturer, School of Social Science Monash University	Dr Juanita Elias Head of Department, Department of Politics and International Studies University of Warwick
Dr Melissa Johnston Postdoctoral Fellow, Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre Monash University	Dr Nicola Pratt Reader, Department of Politics and International Studies University of Warwick