When Girls Are Taken: Political Consequences of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Abductions in Nigeria

What are the gendered political consequences of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV)? Despite its widespread occurrence and devastating consequences, little is known about the broader political effects of this form of civilian victimization. This paper examines how CRSV shapes (i) public attitudes towards government action on gender equality and violence against women, and (ii) women’s political participation in conflict-affected communities. Focusing on Nigeria, where armed groups frequently abduct women and girls for forced marriage and sexual slavery, I draw on two complementary strategies. First, leveraging the timing of a largescale abduction during Afrobarometer fieldwork, I show that it increases public support for government intervention on gender equality, reduces acceptance of wife beating, and bolsters support for women’s property rights. Second, using georeferenced data on mass abductions, I demonstrate that these gendered attacks diminish women’s political participation, particularly collective activities such as protests and community meetings, while men’s participation remains unaffected or even rises. These findings suggest that, while experiences of CRSV may raise awareness of gender inequalities and generate greater public demand for gender equality, they do not automatically translate into enhanced political empowerment for women during conflict.