ABSTRACT
Women’s roles have often been defined by their ability to speak and be heard. Silence has largely been seen as proof of intimidation and disempowerment. As a result, the women’s movement, particularly in the global North, has often prized voice over silence. Yet many cultures across the world regard silence as more than weakness. Indeed, silence is often associated with choice, power and agency. This chapter explores the potential power of silence in different cultures and contexts. It challenges the dichotomy between voice and silence, arguing that silence can be a powerful tool for many women, members of the LGBTQI community and some men. Drawing on my recent book, Rethinking Silence, Voice and Agency in Contested Gendered Terrains (Parpart and Parashar, 2019), I argue that silence can be a powerful tool both during and after conflicts, as well as a crucial form of communication, reflection and even protection in daily life. Silence also plays an interesting role between silence, voice and in-between moments that need further investigation in our complicated world.
