Violence in Jamaica is a deeply rooted issue, shaped by a complex web of socio-economic, cultural, and historical factors. While conversations surrounding crime often centre on male perpetrators and victims, it is critical to shed light on the significant yet multifaceted roles women occupy within this cycle of violence, acting as victims, enablers, or even active participants.

Jamaican women face disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence, encompassing domestic abuse, sexual assault, and femicide. Alarming statistics indicate that approximately 50 per cent of women in Jamaica will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetimes, with reports citing increased rates during times of economic strain and social unrest.

This troubling reality fosters a culture of aggression that becomes normalised within families and communities. When abuse is accepted as a standard response, it creates an intergenerational cycle wherein children exposed to domestic conflict frequently grow up to become either perpetrators or victims themselves, perpetuating harmful patterns of behaviour that can last for generations.

Additionally, some women may unintentionally contribute to this cycle by tolerating or facilitating violent behaviours among men. This can manifest in various ways, including encouraging retaliatory acts of violence, protecting male family members engaged in criminal activities, or raising children in an environment steeped in hostility.

Undoubtedly, limited access to economic resources and social support systems can make women feel trapped in abusive situations, often prioritising survival over safety. Moreover, with many of our households being led by single mothers, the absence of fathers, or positive male role models, young boys may gravitate toward gang members for guidance, inadvertently steering themselves toward futures marked by crime and violence.

Although men typically dominate the statistics related to violent crimes in Jamaica, the involvement of women in criminal activities cannot be disregarded.

Reports from law enforcement indicate that women are taking on active roles in drug trafficking, contract killings, and gang-related operations.

For example, authorities have noted instances in which women lead criminal enterprises, manage drug distribution networks, or serve as informants and financial operatives within gang structures. This shift highlights the complexity of women’s influence on violence, showcasing both their vulnerability as victims and the agency they possess as participants in criminal activities.

INSIGHTS FROM THE CAPRI STUDY

A recent study by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), titled ‘Hits and Misses: Women in Organized Violence’, provides valuable insights into these dynamics. The research categorises women’s involvement in violence in three key ways — as victims, perpetrators, and facilitators of crime.

The study reinforces the reality that gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive forms of crime affecting Jamaican women.

Economic dependency is cited as a major factor trapping women in abusive relationships, preventing them from seeking help or legal recourse.

CaPRI’s research also highlights the role of societal norms in perpetuating cycles of abuse, where women are often socialised to tolerate mistreatment for the sake of family stability.

While women account for less than 3 per cent of arrests for violent crimes, CaPRI’s findings challenge the perception that their role in organised crime is negligible. Many women participate in criminal networks, often in less visible but crucial roles, such as laundering money, gathering intelligence, and managing logistics for gangs. In some cases, women lead criminal operations, overseeing drug trafficking, and orchestrating contract killings, contradicting the traditional view of gangs as male-dominated.

The study emphasises how some women enable violence, either knowingly or unknowingly. Harbouring fugitives, acting as couriers, or discouraging cooperation with law enforcement are some of the ways women contribute to criminal activity.

Additionally, CaPRI highlights the impact of mothers raising children in crime-ridden environments, reinforcing cycles of violence among younger generations.

However, while some women contribute to crime, others are at the forefront of efforts to combat violence. The CaPRI report underscores crime prevention policies, recognising that, while men dominate violent crime statistics, women’s roles — whether as enablers or disruptors — must be structurally interrogated for comprehensive crime-reduction strategies.

Women spearhead other community and grass roots initiatives that advocate for peace, support victims, and provide alternative pathways for at-risk youth. Community centres run by women offer workshops on conflict resolution and self-defence, equipping individuals with skills to navigate violent environments. Female-led organisations provide counselling services for survivors of domestic violence and at-risk youth, breaking the cycle of trauma.

WOMEN — THE KEY TO BREAKING THE CYCLE

For too long the narrative of crime and violence in Jamaica has focused almost exclusively on men. Yet, behind every gang member, every act of brutality, and every shattered community, there is often a woman either suffering in silence, enabling the violence, or actively participating in it. Women are not just victims; they are influencers, decision-makers, and, in some cases, powerful agents of crime itself.

But, just as women play a role in perpetuating violence, they also hold the power to end it. They are the mothers, teachers, community leaders, and policymakers who shape the next generation. The same hands that can nurture aggression can also build peace, resilience, and change.

If we are serious about breaking the cycle of crime, we must address the role of women with urgency.

This means empowering women economically, so they are not forced to depend on violent men for survival; strengthening legal protections for victims of gender-based violence and ensuring swift justice for perpetrators; investing in female-led community programmes that intervene before young boys turn to gangs; and reforming how we raise our children — teaching them that violence is not a legacy, but a curse that must end.

The truth is, Jamaica cannot fight crime effectively without women at the centre of the solution. If we fail to recognize their role both in contributing to and dismantling violence we will continue to repeat the same mistakes, generation after generation.

They say the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. The question is: Will our women raise warriors of war or warriors of peace? The future of Jamaica depends on the answer.

Lisa Hanna is Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a former Cabinet member.