Gender Justice in Timor-Leste: Understanding Transformational Change to Local Perceptions

Sara Niner and Deborah Cummins ()
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Sara Niner: Monash University
Deborah Cummins: Bridging Peoples

A chapter in Gender and Development: Perspectives from Australia and the Pacific, 2026, pp 281-302 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract This chapter provides a framework of local perceptions of gendered roles and relations in contemporary Timor-Leste society ranging from socially conservative to socially progressive. This is contextualised by an account of social and gendered power hierarchies grounded in local histories as presented by Timorese women. Emerging from a recent study about women’s leadership and supported by previous research, the framework presents three distinct perceptions: (i) local-customary and religious conservatism; (ii) modern-nationalist hybrid; and (iii) nascent feminist. Categories are associated with a changing consciousness related to gender relations influenced by processes of nation-building and a ‘modern’ gender equality discourse introduced by international agencies. We believe this framework is useful for strategising and supporting transformational change leading to more equitable gender relations. This requires continued shifts in understandings and perceptions about gender roles and relations within families and communities and building agency and the substantive participation of women and marginalised others, such as non-binary genders. Local social movements are best placed to lead and implement such nuanced social and cultural strategies. This framework may also be useful for conceptualising change to gender norms in other environments around the world.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:gdechp:978-981-95-4842-2_13

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DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-4842-2_13

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