Queering Women, Peace and Security
Based on:
Journal Article (2016)
This work considers how the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda can better include LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and queer) voices in gender, peace and security initiatives. Central to including lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in WPS is confronting heteronormativity and cisprivilege.
Brief by:
After 20 years of advocacy and policy action related to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) architecture, the continued silence about homophobic and transphobic violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in conflict-related environments is alarming.
Those vulnerable to insecurity and violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity remain largely neglected by the international peace and security community. This neglect is in part the result of heteronormative assumptions in the framing of the WPS agenda.
The goal of this article and ongoing research agenda is not only to point out this silence but also to propose ways in which a queer security analysis can address and redress these silences in policy through paying attention to the damaging role heteronormativity and cisprivilege play in sustaining the current gap in analysis of gendered violence.
Key findings
A queer theory analysis reveals a wide spectrum of identities that do not fit neatly into a binary conception of gender restricted to exclusive categories of male/female or man/woman.
Proposed action
Include LGBTQ people in developing, implementing and monitoring Women, Peace and Security projects
Define women and gender as two distinct terms
Expand indicators monitoring WPS implementation to also include attention to sexual orientation and gender identity
Collect disaggregated data about LGBTQ individuals living in conflict
Helpful resources
Example: The Colombia peacebuilding case [Access resource]
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Acknowledgements
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Queering Women, Peace and Security
Cite this brief: Hagen, Jamie. 'Queering Women, Peace and Security'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/queering-women-peace-and-security/
Brief created by: Dr Jamie Hagen | Year brief made: 2021
Original research:
- Hagen, J., ‘Queering Women, Peace and Security’ 92(2) (pp. 313–332) https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2346.12551. – https://scholarworks.umb.edu/doctoral_dissertations/438/
Research brief:
This work considers how the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda can better include LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and queer) voices in gender, peace and security initiatives. Central to including lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in WPS is confronting heteronormativity and cisprivilege.
After 20 years of advocacy and policy action related to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) architecture, the continued silence about homophobic and transphobic violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals in conflict-related environments is alarming.
Those vulnerable to insecurity and violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity remain largely neglected by the international peace and security community. This neglect is in part the result of heteronormative assumptions in the framing of the WPS agenda.
The goal of this article and ongoing research agenda is not only to point out this silence but also to propose ways in which a queer security analysis can address and redress these silences in policy through paying attention to the damaging role heteronormativity and cisprivilege play in sustaining the current gap in analysis of gendered violence.
Findings:
A queer theory analysis reveals a wide spectrum of identities that do not fit neatly into a binary conception of gender restricted to exclusive categories of male/female or man/woman.
Advice:
Include LGBTQ people in developing, implementing and monitoring Women, Peace and Security projects
Define women and gender as two distinct terms
Expand indicators monitoring WPS implementation to also include attention to sexual orientation and gender identity
Collect disaggregated data about LGBTQ individuals living in conflict