Can't forget this

I. Inter and intra group "othering":

Since both conflicts are based on identity, it is useful to examine them in terms of "othering". That is to say, scholars like Nandana Dutta amongst a myriad of others believe much conflict in a product of subject-object conceptions between different groups. Groups based on certain identities (ethnicity, religion etc) create binaries based on "us" and "them". Creating the "them" part of the equation, i.e. the "other", allows individuals to partcipate in discriminatory and violent activities are the other is dehumanized (i.e. the OTHER does not RESONATE with SELF, this distinct break allows distance and differentiation and thus justification for violence).

As interesting as these theories are, my research can definitely benefit from there by looking at inter-group othering and intra-group othering. Not only are clear distincations made between groups, they are also made within groups: i.e between men and women part of the same identity-based group. Thus actions within the group can be a product of an implicit power struggle, disproportionately benefitting certain members at the cost of others (though it does not have to be a zero-sum game as such). This just occurred to me and I am quite excited by this idea...we'll see how I feel about it in a week haha.

*I need to find some literature on this other than general theories of "othering" that I have already examined

II. Collective action:

Using Olson's collective action logic to explore the question: why do minority interests supersede majority interests? Clearly women comprise half of any given society (give a take a little!), so it does not make sense why formal and informal policies and actions are not embedded with consideration towards half of the human population more often than currently in place, keeping in mind that this would not necessarily take away from any sort of benefits to men. In the cases I am examining I should thus focus on who is steering peace and conflict and what they have to gain from it, and how others are losing as a result of it.