A growing force? : an empirical study on the role of female military peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping operations
Kaltiainen, Laura (2019)
Kaltiainen, Laura
2019
Master's Degree Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2019-05-22
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-201907032415
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-201907032415
Tiivistelmä
War and peace are traditionally considered being a “man´s world”. Within the past few decades the nature of conflicts has changed radically. Traditional inter-state conflicts between nation states have become more complex intra-state conflicts, including new non-state actors who are increasingly targeting civilians, medical personnel and peacekeepers. Therefore, also the response to contemporary conflicts, such as UN peacekeeping operations, have had to change accordingly. Traditional UN peacekeeping operations in which peacekeepers were – mainly observing ceasefire agreements and borders – have been replaced with multidimensional operations including new tasks, positions, environments and actors, such as female military peacekeepers.
Although women are a relatively new thing in peacekeeping, they are widely seen as improving the operational effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. Both scholars and policymakers argue that female peacekeeper have a special set of skills to contribute to the missions. The UN, being arguably the most known and legitimate actor in peacekeeping, has adopted several guidelines and resolutions, such as the UNSCR 1325 and the subsequent resolutions to highlight the need to increase the number of women in peacekeeping operations. Female peacekeepers are argued being especially effective at gaining the trust of locals; combating gender-based violence; and improving the overall reputation and image of UN peacekeeping. Despite these arguments, the number of military female peacekeepers has remained low – with women contributing approximately four percent of the military component. Moreover, women are often absent from situations in which their effectiveness in peacekeeping is evaluated. Therefore, in this study I found it important to listen to voices of female military peacekeepers themselves – at the end of the day, they are among the ones to determine whether a peacekeeping mission will succeed or not.
This research seeks to investigate whether female military peacekeepers believe they improve the operational effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations or not. In more detail, this thesis aims to find out in which specific tasks they believe they are more effective at than their male colleagues, and if they have faced any limitations because of their gender when trying to perform peacekeeping duties as female peacekeepers. In order to do this, the study conducted an empirical study of the perceptions of female peacekeepers themselves. The study was done through qualitative analysis on qualitative surveys, conducted in cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre (FINCENT), as well as written policy documents, which were examined through the framework of feminist International Relations and feminist Security Studies, focusing on classical feminist scholars such as Cynthia Enloe, Jan Jindy Pettman and Jacqui True. FINCENT, as internationally known and recognized expert in crisis management education and training, will possibly use the findings of the study to develop their future training.
While acknowledging that there are differences between women and not all men or women have the same personal qualities, the findings of this research point out that women do believe they increase the operational effectiveness of peacekeeping missions. They believe they are able to gain the trust of locals more easily; help to combat gender-based violence and provide protection; encourage women to participate in decision-making and peace processes; and increase the reputation of the operation. The findings indicate that female military peacekeepers do face limitations that may prevent them to use their whole capacity as peacekeepers. This study also concludes that based on the data, female military peacekeepers stress that all peacekeepers, both men and women, should be adequately military trained and the training should include more practical exercises, lessons learned and best practices from previous missions. The research concludes that male and female peacekeepers complement each other in the mission and the most effective teams are mixed teams.
Although women are a relatively new thing in peacekeeping, they are widely seen as improving the operational effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. Both scholars and policymakers argue that female peacekeeper have a special set of skills to contribute to the missions. The UN, being arguably the most known and legitimate actor in peacekeeping, has adopted several guidelines and resolutions, such as the UNSCR 1325 and the subsequent resolutions to highlight the need to increase the number of women in peacekeeping operations. Female peacekeepers are argued being especially effective at gaining the trust of locals; combating gender-based violence; and improving the overall reputation and image of UN peacekeeping. Despite these arguments, the number of military female peacekeepers has remained low – with women contributing approximately four percent of the military component. Moreover, women are often absent from situations in which their effectiveness in peacekeeping is evaluated. Therefore, in this study I found it important to listen to voices of female military peacekeepers themselves – at the end of the day, they are among the ones to determine whether a peacekeeping mission will succeed or not.
This research seeks to investigate whether female military peacekeepers believe they improve the operational effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations or not. In more detail, this thesis aims to find out in which specific tasks they believe they are more effective at than their male colleagues, and if they have faced any limitations because of their gender when trying to perform peacekeeping duties as female peacekeepers. In order to do this, the study conducted an empirical study of the perceptions of female peacekeepers themselves. The study was done through qualitative analysis on qualitative surveys, conducted in cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces International Centre (FINCENT), as well as written policy documents, which were examined through the framework of feminist International Relations and feminist Security Studies, focusing on classical feminist scholars such as Cynthia Enloe, Jan Jindy Pettman and Jacqui True. FINCENT, as internationally known and recognized expert in crisis management education and training, will possibly use the findings of the study to develop their future training.
While acknowledging that there are differences between women and not all men or women have the same personal qualities, the findings of this research point out that women do believe they increase the operational effectiveness of peacekeeping missions. They believe they are able to gain the trust of locals more easily; help to combat gender-based violence and provide protection; encourage women to participate in decision-making and peace processes; and increase the reputation of the operation. The findings indicate that female military peacekeepers do face limitations that may prevent them to use their whole capacity as peacekeepers. This study also concludes that based on the data, female military peacekeepers stress that all peacekeepers, both men and women, should be adequately military trained and the training should include more practical exercises, lessons learned and best practices from previous missions. The research concludes that male and female peacekeepers complement each other in the mission and the most effective teams are mixed teams.