Working Title:
Gender and the Development of Peace
Dr. Lynda-ann BlanchardCentre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of SydneyOur Work, Our Lives Conference- Dili, Timor Leste, September 2011
The significance of gender in peace and
conflict studies What has gender got to do with peace ?
Feminist approaches to human rights
Nonviolence and the roles of women and men as agents of social change
‘Development’ as a context for the interplay between gender and peace
Peace, Gender and Development
A peace and conflict studies perspective – begins with the intersections between gender, development and peace –
and includes a critical analysis of the masculinisation of warfare and the feminisation of peace.
The phenomenology of militarism– some quotes “Throughout my time in the world of strategic analysis, it was hard not to
notice the ubiquitous weight of gender, both in social relations and in language itself. My goal was to develop a critique of dominant western concepts of reason in a discussion of the nature of nuclear strategic thinking – the metaphors are arresting” [Carol Cohen, 1987:688]
“Let’s explore the intimate historical and modern connection between manhood and nationhood: through the construction of patriotic manhood and exalted motherhood as icons of nationalist ideology; through sexualised militarism. [Joanne Nagel, 1998:242]
Refs: *Cohn, C (1987) "Sex and Death in the Rational World of Defense Intellectuals", Signs: Journal of Women and Culture and Society, Summer 1987.
*Nagel, J (1998) "Masculinity and nationalism: gender and sexuality in the making of nations", Ethnic and Racial Studies 2:1.
The phenomenology and political economy of militarism– some facts In 2005, James Wolfensohn, former Head of the World Bank said “The world
spends US$900 billion /year on defence and $50 billion per year on development, therein lies the problem.”
In 2010, Australia spent $61 million dollars per day on defence The Iraq War was called the 3-Trillion Dollar War, and this does not include the
human and environmental costs of destroyed lives and lands The US has approx. 1,000 overseas military bases, the largest collection of bases
in world history….
The phenomenology and social economy of militarism– some figures There are approx, 23,000 nuclear weapons in the world today (96% are in
the arsenals of Russia and the USA) The Lowy Poll on public opinion and foreign policy released last year
showed that 75% of Australians “somewhat’ or ‘strongly’ agreed that ‘global nuclear disarmament should be a top priority for the Australian Govt.
Women were more likely than men to agree – 84% compared with 65% Despite Winston Churchill’s decades old assertion “to jaw-jaw is always
better than to war-war”, only a fraction of Australia’s national budget is dedicated to diplomacy on nuclear disarmament or any other issue, compared to that dedicated to defence
Ref -- www. lowyinstitute .org/PublicationPop.asp?pid=1148Ref-- Carol Cohen, Felicity Hill and Sara Ruddick (2010), “The Relevance of Gender for
Eliminating Weapons of Mass Destruction” reachingcriticalwill.org/resources/books/BAC/text.html
Timor Leste….
The two warships are named Jaco and Betano and were commissioned into East Timorese service in late June 2010 at an estimated cost of US$34 million
East Timor Government budget papers show that the F-FDTL has been allocated funding of $US21.519 million for 2011
The phenomenology and social/political economy of violence– some facts
The face of global poverty is a feminine face Structural violence according to peace
theorists
Funding from Australia’s “Addressing Domestic Violence” fund was pilfered to fund Anti-terrorism measures – Direct violence against women
75 percent of the IDP in Nepal are women and children (Caritas, 2005) The unequal impacts of war on women
include indirect violence
Source: ekantipur.com
Challenging Norms Breaking through the “norm”
of masculinised definitions of security – or masculinisation of warfare
Brings to the surface human security– a feminisation of peace
Source: ekantipur.com
The Grameen Bank of Bangladesh
Addressing Structural Violence
14 million borrowers in Bangladesh
97% women Seek poorest of the poor as
clients Women are shareholders in
their bank Liberating women from
poverty, liberates children Changes gender inequalities
in broader community Diminishing patriarchy
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Founder Grameen Bank Sydney Peace Prize Recipient 1998; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2008.
Aboriginal Night Patrols
Addressing Direct Violence
Began in by grandmothers in the Yuendumu community
Removal of alcohol induced male violence from community
So effective, police offered uniform and a patrol car
Women asked for police cooperation in exchange
Reconciling (dialogue and collaboration between) Indigenous/ Non-Indigenous relations
Ref: www.nt.gov.au/health/healthdev/health_promotion/bushbook/volume2/chap1/community.htm
Women for Peace Conference – Dili 2009
Addressing Cultural Violence
“Across the world women have increasingly gained a voice in the development of theircommunities reducing gender‐related barriers to opportunities. However, for women in many countries, culture remains the main constraint in efforts to reduce gender inequalities.
Women and men need to work together so peaceand development can progress, especially in post-conflict environments which impact onwomen’s access to education, jobs and decision-making.”
Ref: Women for Peace Narrative Report: 2nd International Conference 2009, pg. 3
The Alola Foundation—Timor Leste
The Alola Foundation was originally created (in 2001) to raise awareness of the widespread sexual violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor) during the militia attacks of September 1999.
The Foundation, today provides a wide range of vitally important hands-on support for the women and children of Timor-Leste.
(Alola Foundation website, August 2011)
Peacebuilding -- Creativity & ImaginationPolicy & Law
Weaving Women’s Stories— overcoming war
Village Theatre— confronting bride price
Justice for Women Survivors of Gender Based Violence—
Peace through Tourism in Timor – addressing youth under-employment and under-education
Women’s participation in the public sphere leads to economic, social and political empowerment
Pedagogy of Peace and Conflict Studies
“Is a shift from a system leading to chronic wars, social injustice and ecological imbalance to one of peace, social justice and ecological balance a realistic possibility? … what changes in social structure would make such a transformation possible?” [Riane Eisler, 1995:xiv].
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