Gender and Gender Mainstreaming in International Peacebuilding

Citation:

Purkarthofer, Petra. 2006. “Gender and Gender Mainstreaming in International Peacebuilding.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Diego, March 22-25.

Author: Petra Purkarthofer

Abstract:

Post-conflict peacebuilding is a gendered process, in which power and resources are reassigned. Gender relations have an impact on the design of post-conflict peacebuilding and are restructured by this process at the same time. I will present an overview of the discussion on gender and peacebuilding during recent years and identify the main factors leading to greater gender sensitivity in international peacebuilding, especially with regard to the United Nations. How is gender defined and used in UN resolutions and documents? UN resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security for example focuses mainly on special needs of women. Issues to transform gender hierarchies such as structural discrimination, power relations, access to resources, gender identity or gender specific division of labor are rarely discussed. Often women and gender are used synonymously. What does gender mainstreaming mean in this context and how is it applied in peace missions? I will show that without any future change, gender mainstreaming risks reproducing gender inequalities.

Topics: Gender, Gender Mainstreaming, Gendered Power Relations, Gender Hierarchies, Gender Equality/Inequality, Peacebuilding, Peace Processes, Post-Conflict, Post-Conflict Reconstruction, UN Security Council Resolutions on WPS, UNSCR 1325

Year: 2006