ABSTRACT
The myth of protection is based on the belief that men can and should protect women and children. This gendered myth positions men as the defenders and guardians of women’s physical welfare and security. It associates safety and control with masculinity and vulnerability and dependency with femininity. In the name of protection, women’s agency is restricted, and men’s control over women’s bodies and sexuality stays unopposed. Feminist thinkers and activists argue that while the myth declares safety and protection, it actually justifies gender hierarchies, unequal citizenship, and aggressive international politics. The myth of protection, writes J. Ann Tickner (2001), is crucial to uphold the legitimacy of war and the impossibility of peace.
