How to Study Gender in International Security? An Introduction to Feminist Security Studies

Abstract

Thinking on war, violence and security has always been associated withconcepts of femininity and masculinity. Similarly, wars and politicaltransformations also change the notions of the roles of women and men insociety. This article shows how the links between gender identities andthreat construction, understanding of aggression, or social sensitivity todi!erent types of victims of violence can be studied academically. Itintroduces feminist security studies, embeds it in the research ofinternational relations and security, and encourages its development in theCzech academic environment. The article introduces key concepts andmethods of studying gender in (international) security, identifies keythemes in feminist security research, and explains various approaches andtypes of questions that can be investigated in this area.