International Security and Gender - (Dimensions of Security) by Nicole Detraz (Paperback)

About the Book

The author "explores the broad terrain of security studies through a gender lens ... By examining issues of militarization, peacekeeping, terrorism, human and environmental security, the book considers how the gender-security nexus pushes us to ask different questions and broaden our sphere of analysis. Including gender in our analysis of security challenges the primacy of traditional security concepts and shifts the focus to be more inclusive ...Our society often expects men and women to play different roles, and this is no less true in the realm of security. This book demonstrates that security debates exhibit gendered understanding of key concepts and, while these gendered assumptions may benefit specific people, they are often detrimental to others, particularly in the key realm of policymaking."--p. 4 of cover

Book Synopsis

What does it mean to be secure? In the global news, we hear stories daily about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about domestic-level conflicts around the world, about the challenges of cybersecurity and social security. This broad list highlights the fact that security is an idea with multiple meanings, but do we all experience security issues in the same way?

In this book, Nicole Detraz explores the broad terrain of security studies through a gender lens. Assumptions about masculinity and femininity play important roles in how we understand and react to security threats. By examining issues of militarization, peacekeeping, terrorism, human security, and environmental security, the book considers how the gender-security nexus pushes us to ask different questions and broaden our sphere of analysis. Including gender in our analysis of security challenges the primacy of some traditional security concepts and shifts the focus to be more inclusive. Without a full understanding of the vulnerabilities and threats associated with security, we may miss opportunities to address pressing global problems.

Our society often expects men and women to play different roles, and this is no less true in the realm of security. This book demonstrates that security debates exhibit gendered understandings of key concepts, and whilst these gendered assumptions may benefit specific people, they are often detrimental to others, particularly in the key realm of policy-making.

Review Quotes

Winner of the Choice award for Outstanding Academic Title

"Through a vast review of the security literature, Detraz makes an excellent case for the greater understanding and incorporation of gender in security studies."
--LSE Review of Books

"An essential read for every IR and feminist scholar and student seeking deeper understandings of current events in the field."
--Central European Journal of International and Security Studies

"Should be a key text for students of security studies. It is also a powerful introduction for gender scholars to understand how security discourses not only use, but also create, particular constructions of gender."
--Feminist & Women's Studies Association Blog

"International Security and Gender is a complex and critical overview of the field of gender and security, which familiarizes readers with the field in a fair and even-handed manner and provides forward-looking challenges to the field's research agendas."
--Laura Sjoberg, University of Florida

"Nicole Detraz's book presents a comprehensive and well-written introduction to what it means to approach international security through gendered lenses. A highly valuable contribution to the current security debate, it shows persuasively the central place of gender. Convincingly, it argues that security studies miss something crucial when gender remains invisible in debates on militarization, peacebuilding, terrorism, as well as human, environmental, and climate security. It urges students to enlarge the scope of security and question key concepts, while also suggesting ways toward change and emancipation."
--Annica Kronsell, Lund University

"In an essential contribution to the growing field of feminist security studies, Detraz shows impeccably how asking feminist questions about a range of security issues leads us to understand the gendered aspects of vulnerabilities and threats, ultimately helping to formulate reflexive, rather than simplistic, policies to bring about human emancipation."
--Catia Cecilia Confortini, Wellesley College

About the Author

Nicole Detraz is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Memphis.