Rwanda leads the world with the largest share of women in the national legislature; it's arguably the number one country for women in politics. This has led me to wonder whether and how traditional gender roles are challenged and/or transformed in times of (post-)conflict. This is a relevant question as times are changing, and with that, there is also a need for the transformation of traditional and outdated roles that have been imposed on us by generations that do not exist anymore. The expectations of gender roles are not limited to the experiences of women, but also to men and gender diverse people, who are often overlooked in the gender discourse. Can gender roles transform and how?

In this episode, Sara Sadrizadeh sits down with Dorsa Babaei—Co-Director of PeaceMentors, a youth-led initiative that raises awareness and trains young people in peacebuilding, intercultural and interfaith dialogue, social inclusion, and conflict resolution—to explore how she got into peacebuilding, and how her gender has influenced her career. Moreover, she shares her experience working with people in a post-conflict society and sheds light on the traditional expectations set out for all genders. This episode shows that even though traditional gender roles can remain intact, there is also space for change and transformation, which individuals can shape to their own liking. Tune in to hear Dorsa and I share our thoughts on today’s topic. For more on the Ted Talk mentioned throughout this episode, visit: https://www.ted.com/talks/deepa_narayan_7_beliefs_that_can_silence_women_and_how_to_unlearn_them.

Music credit: 'Coffee Shopping' by Bruno Freitas, licensed under hooksounds.com.