Human Security and Gender: Examining“Violence Targeting Women”

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine human security by focusing on violence targeting women and shedding light on the complex aspects of violence. Examination employs the perspective of protecting the survival and dignity of every human being. Also, this paper discusses how human security can respond to violence targeting women and how peace research, which aims to eliminate violence, can contribute to the discussion.

Discussions of security in international politics have focused on military aspects, and scholars of gender and international relations have argued for the need to place humans more at the center of discussion. These are also related to discussions of human security. However, the comprehensive perspective of “human beings” seems to make it challenging to grasp the threats individuals face in various contexts. In addition, even if there is gender awareness in discussions of human security, this awareness is easily lost, and it is imperative to be conscious of it.

Violence targeting women is often analyzed within the framework of the “violence triangle.” However, this paper raises the issue of excessive attention to the structural and cultural aspects, which diluted the analysis of the intention of the violence and made the target of violence more vulnerable. It does not mean that violence targeting women is unrelated to structural violence and cultural violence. The elements of violence can be made more explicit by understanding the active and strategic intention of violence. Furthermore, it is pointed out that violence targeting women includes resistance to women’s political participation and the realization of a democratic society. Still, these are not defensive actions against “traditional” or “cultural” values based on the existing structure of misogyny, but rather a strategy to actively construct new discriminatory perceptions and build a structure of domination. Then, the responsibility for violence can be more clearly understood.

It has become clear that various intentions mediate the violence examined in this paper. So, how can the current situation of violence targeting women be changed? In discussions of human security, “protection,” “empowerment,” “solidarity,” and “agency” have been emphasized. Of course, it is essential that each of us proactively review our relationships with our society and those around us and foster an awareness that does not tolerate violence. So as not to contribute to the reproduction of norms and social structures that induce violence and oppressive behavior. However, it can also be pointed out that legal frameworks and policies to punish increasingly sophisticated violence targeting women are not sufficient. There is an interdependent issue in which the promotion of legislation and policies against violence targeting women encourages violence targeting women involved in politics. However, even so, the problem is that policies to achieve gender equality have not been implemented as a system. It is necessary to redesign the system so that policies can be implemented and function as a whole.