Rethinking security: a gendered lens on global peace & economy (UPSC analysis)

Introduction: The Unseen Battlefield

For centuries, the concept of national security has evoked images of tanks, borders, and armies—a masculine world of statecraft and conflict. This traditional, or realist, perspective views security as the protection of the state from external threats in an anarchic international system. But what if the greatest threats to human security are not invading armies, but the structural violence and inequality happening within those very borders? This is the critical question posed by feminist international relations theorists, who argue for a fundamental shift in our understanding of security—a process often called gendering security.

This approach redefines security not just as the safety of the state, but as the elimination of all forms of violence, including domestic abuse, economic exploitation, and gender subordination. It moves the focus from the state to the individual, revealing that state policies designed to enhance national security can paradoxically create profound insecurity for the most vulnerable, particularly women.

The Fortress and the Plague: A New Perspective on Security

Imagine a medieval fortress, heavily armed and impenetrable from the outside. The king believes his kingdom is secure. However, inside the walls, a silent plague—born of poverty, poor sanitation, and social inequality—is devastating the population. The realist perspective is the king, obsessed with the fortress walls. The feminist perspective is the physician, who understands that true security means ensuring the well-being of every person inside.

This broader definition exposes the hidden insecurities perpetuated by state actions. For instance, Katherine Moon’s study, Sex Among Allies, showed how the South Korean government, to secure the presence of US troops for national security, actively facilitated military prostitution, creating immense personal insecurity for Korean women. Similarly, Christine Chin’s In Service and Servitude revealed how the Malaysian state stabilized its middle class by allowing the exploitation of foreign domestic workers, primarily women, in terrible conditions.

These cases illustrate a core feminist argument: the state, in its quest for its own security, often trades away the security of marginalized groups.

Analogy: Traditional security is like a watchdog that only barks at strangers outside the gate, ignoring the fire spreading inside the house. Feminist security is a comprehensive home security system that monitors for both external intruders and internal dangers like fires and gas leaks.

The Global & Indian Framework for Gendering Security: A Paradigm Shift

The global community has increasingly recognized the validity of this perspective. The most significant milestone is the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, adopted in 2000. This landmark resolution was the first to recognize the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls. It urges member states to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all UN peace and security efforts. The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, born from this resolution, stands on four pillars:

1. Participation: Demanding women’s equal participation in all levels of decision-making, including peace negotiations and post-conflict governance.
2. Protection: Calling for specific measures to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflict.
3. Prevention: Advocating for the prevention of violence against women through gender-sensitive justice systems and the promotion of women’s rights.
4. Relief & Recovery: Ensuring that the specific needs of women and girls are met during post-conflict reconstruction.

Mnemonic for WPS Pillars: “People Protect Peaceful Recovery” (Participation, Protection, Prevention, Relief & Recovery).

Recent Developments (2023-2025):

India has been a proactive contributor to this agenda. As of mid-2025, the Indian Army aims to have Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in all its UN peacekeeping missions, enhancing the effectiveness of these operations by building trust with local communities, especially women and children. [4] This commitment was highlighted when Major Radhika Sen received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year award in June 2024 for her exemplary service in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [3] India was also the first country to deploy an all-female peacekeeping contingent to Liberia in 2007, a pioneering move that inspired local women and improved mission outcomes. [5]

Domestically, the most significant recent development is the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitution Amendment Act) in September 2023. This act reserves one-third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women. [14, 15] While its implementation is linked to the next census and delimitation exercise, this legislation is a monumental step. [15] By increasing women’s political representation, it directly addresses a key tenet of the WPS agenda: that greater female participation in governance leads to more inclusive and sustainable peace.

The Economic Cage: Gender in the Global Economy

Security cannot be separated from economic reality. Feminist analysis reveals how the global economic system perpetuates gender inequality, creating a cycle of vulnerability. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, while the gap in Educational Attainment (95.1%) and Health (96.2%) is nearly closed, the gaps in Economic Participation and Opportunity (61.0%) and Political Empowerment (22.9%) remain vast. [9] At the current rate of progress, it will take another 123 years to achieve full global gender parity. [9]

Statistic: A 2024 UN Women report highlighted that failing to invest in women and girls carries a staggering global economic cost, with some estimates suggesting a loss of over $7-10 trillion annually. [8, 12] This underscores that gender equality is not just a social issue but a critical economic imperative.

Key issues include:

• The Wage Gap: Globally, women are paid less than men for comparable work.
• Unremunerated Care Work: Women perform a disproportionate share of unpaid domestic and care work. This ‘double burden’ limits their ability to participate in the formal economy and reduces their autonomy.
• Gendered Professions: Social conditioning pushes women into ‘caring’ professions (nursing, teaching) which are systematically undervalued and underpaid.

This economic subordination directly impacts security. A woman who is economically dependent is more vulnerable to domestic violence and has fewer resources to escape conflict or rebuild her life post-conflict.

Critical Policy Appraisal

‘Critical Policy Appraisal’ of the Global Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda

Fun Fact: When women participate in peace processes, the resulting agreement is 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. This statistic powerfully demonstrates that including women is not just about fairness; it’s about effectiveness.

Analytical Lens: UPSC Focus (Mains & Prelims)

Conceptual Basis:

• International Convention: UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) is the foundational document for the global Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.
• Constitutional Provisions (India): Article 14 (Equality before Law), Article 15(3) (Special provisions for women and children), and Article 39(d) (Equal pay for equal work).
• Key Legislation (India): The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitution Amendment Act, 2023) is the most recent and significant legislative action to enhance women’s political participation. [23]

UPSC Integration: Connecting the Dots

• GS Paper 1 (Indian Society): Links directly to topics like the role of women and women’s organizations, patriarchy, social empowerment, and the effects of globalization on women.
• GS Paper 2 (Polity & Governance, IR): Connects to gender justice, constitutional mechanisms, welfare schemes for vulnerable sections, and India’s role in international forums and peacekeeping.
• GS Paper 3 (Economy): Relates to inclusive growth, the ‘care economy’, the impact of gender inequality on GDP, and human development.

Future Impact & Policy Relevance: The discourse on security is irrevocably shifting from a state-centric to a human-centric model. The future of effective security policy will depend on its ability to be gender-responsive. India’s push for women’s reservation and its leadership in female peacekeeping are not isolated events but part of this global megatrend. For policymakers, the key takeaway is that investing in women’s education, economic empowerment, and political leadership is not a ‘soft’ issue; it is a core component of a robust and resilient national security strategy.

Practice MCQ for Prelims:

Q. Which of the following are the recognized pillars of the UN’s Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, stemming from UNSCR 1325?

1. Participation
2. Prosecution
3. Protection
4. Prevention
5. Relief & Recovery

Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only (b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer: (b) Explanation: The four official pillars of the WPS Agenda are Participation, Protection, Prevention, and Relief & Recovery. ‘Prosecution’ is a tool that may be used under the ‘Protection’ and ‘Prevention’ pillars (e.g., prosecuting perpetrators of sexual violence), but it is not considered a standalone pillar of the agenda.

Sample Mains Question (15 Marks):

Q. “True national security is incomplete without ensuring the security of all its citizens, especially women.” In light of this statement, critically analyze the feminist reconceptualization of security. How can recent legislative measures in India contribute to a more comprehensive and gender-just security framework?

Mind Map Outline (Revision Structure)

• Gendering Security: A Feminist Perspective
  • Core Concepts: Redefining Security
    • Traditional (Realist) View
      • State-centric
      • Focus on military threats
      • Anarchic international system
    • Feminist Critique & Re-conceptualization
      • Human-centric
      • Focus on all forms of violence (structural, domestic)
      • Security as social justice and emancipation
  • The Economic Dimension of Insecurity
    • Global Gender Gap (WEF Report 2025 Data)
      • Economic Participation Gap (61.0%)
      • Political Empowerment Gap (22.9%)
    • Key Economic Barriers
      • Wage Gap
      • Unremunerated Care Work (‘Double Burden’)
      • Gendered Professions
  • Global & Indian Frameworks
    • United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325
      • Four Pillars (WPS Agenda)
        • Participation
        • Protection
        • Prevention
        • Relief & Recovery
    • Recent Indian Developments (2023-2025)
      • Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Amendment Act, 2023)
      • Enhanced role of women in UN Peacekeeping (Female Engagement Teams, Awards)
  • Critical Policy Appraisal
    • Challenges
      • Implementation Gap
      • ‘Tick-the-box’ Mentality
      • Patriarchal Resistance
    • Opportunities & Successes
      • Strong Normative Framework
      • Creation of National Action Plans (NAPs)
      • Proven link between women’s participation and durable peace