Abstract
This quantitative, descriptive study examined political destabilization as a contributing factor to violence towards women in West Africa, from the responses of 60 West African immigrant residents of the Sacramento, California region, who emigrated from the following three countries: Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The study used a survey research design with a non-random purposive sampling method. The study findings indicate that women activists who are fighting for justice for women are often targeted for violent assault and it was reported by the study subjects, both male and female, as a commonly occurring phenomenon in all these countries. There were statistically significant positive correlations between reported levels of agreement with the statements that political destabilization has increased hate speech against progressive women activists and has contributed to terrorizing or degrading women who are active politically. Additionally, members of the West African community in Sacramento reported that political stabilization has contributed to the increased use of gender stereotypes to intimidate the women and has undermined the dignity of women in political office and forced them to resign against their will. There were differences between males and females in their perceptions of the role of political destabilization in violence toward women as more women than men reported that sexual assaults against women are normalized due to political unrest and destabilization. Respondents also reported that political destabilization has caused women to be rejected by their own families and communities due to the taboo associated with rape. Recommendations include the need for social education to empower women through active conscientization on the human rights of women as equal members of the society, while also engaging the attention and resources of the international community to provide the needed support to prevent conflicts in the West African region.