Conflict Induced Internal Displacement & The Shifting Gender Dynamics E

Internal displacement is an issue that affects regions around the world. Countries ravaged by civil wars, government oppression, human rights abuse or other internal conflicts produce the mass displacement of persons (referred to as IDPs) to other parts of the country seeking refuge (Knox and Marston,108-109, 2010). Within the context of Colombia this paper will first explore the economic challenges that IDPs must face and discuss how these challenges effect displaced women. It will then discuss how the gendered division of labor in the household impacts these geographies of displacement. Lastly, it will examine the link between the urban environment, and shifting gender dynamics within the context of internal displacement. Colombia provides a good case study from which to examine the issue of internal displacement, because Latin America is the world region with the second most severe IDP situations, Africa being number one (Knox and Marston,108-109, 2010). Colombia in particular has a dramatically high number of IDPs, accounting for up to 8.6% of Colombia’s total population (Carrillo,529, 2009). The capital city of Bogotà ¡ has the largest population of IDPs in the country, approximated to be 244,184 (Carrillo,530, 2009).These high numbers are a result of the Guerrillas and paramilitaries targeting rural civilians by way of â€Å"arbitrary killings, looting, and destruction of property† in order to take control of their land for economic and political benefit and in order to possess strategic territory (Knox and Marston,108-109, 2010). The civilians being targeted usually move from their homes in these war stricken rural areas to urban areas elsewhere in the country (usually determined by geograph... ...s, suppl. Displacement, 2009: 527-546. Eschenbà ¤cher, Jens-Hagen. "The Global Internal Displacement Crisis: Recent Developments and Perspectives for An Improved International Response." Refugee Survey Quarterly, 2005: 49-60. Escobar, Nora Segura. "Colombia: A New Century, an Old War, and More." International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society, 2000: 107-127. Knox, Paul L, and Sallie A Marston. Places and Regions in Global Context: Human Geography. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2010. Monserrat, Silvia Inà ©s , et al. "Values and attitudes towards women in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico." Employee Relations, 2009: 227-244. Mooney, Erin. "THE CONCEPT OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT." Refugee Survey Quarterly, 2005: 9-26. Winders, Jamie. August 31, 2011. GEO 171. Winders, Jamie. October 5, 2011. "Population Geographies: Migration". GEO 171.