ABSTRACT
Gender practices in global and regional security organizations form the gendered norms and expectations regarding the ‘proper’ behaviour, perspectives, and attitudes, which can support and/or challenge patriarchy. While most analyses of ‘gender practices’ in international security focus primarily on the implementation (or lack thereof) of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (SCR 1325), this chapter begins by examining the beginnings of gender work in security organizations and the conceptualization of ‘gender practices’ before moving to a discussion of sex- and gender-sensitive policies and programmes in these spaces. We then discuss and debunk some of the myths and assumptions around gender policies in the context of international peace and security. We conclude by highlighting some of the most promising, if imperfect, developments around gender and women.
