Military Handbooks: Female Perspectives on War, Peace, and a Security Focus for Military Personnel
In the realm of international peace and security, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework has gained significant attention. This approach promotes a gendered perspective and advocates for women's equal and meaningful participation in peace processes, peacebuilding, and security [1].
The WPS Act, a policy framework signed by President Donald Trump six years ago, recognises women as critical actors in achieving sustainable international peace and security [2]. This Act legally codified the United States government's commitment to principles presented in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 passed in 2000.
The US military has taken great strides in incorporating WPS concepts in its strategies and operational planning. For instance, the role of women in war and conflict is highlighted in books such as Laura Sjoberg's "Gender, War, and Conflict," which underscores the importance of considering gender in the understanding of conflict [3].
Moreover, the book "Our Bodies, Their Battlefield" by Christina Lamb provides detailed narratives of sexual violence in conflict zones, emphasising the necessity of integrating gender perspectives to protect civilians and improve military ethics and policy [4].
In professional military education (PME) institutions such as the National War College, Army War College, and Marine Corps University, the integration of WPS concepts is being showcased. "Women, Peace, and Security in Professional Military Education," edited by Lauren Mackenzie and Dana Perkins, demonstrates this integration [5].
However, despite half a decade of implementation, WPS has not fully entered the consciousness of American strategic thought. Many within the military are still just becoming acquainted with the existence and relevance of WPS [6].
Bradford Wineman, a professor at USMC Command & Staff College, is leading the charge in this regard. As the codirector of the Marine Corps University Reynolds Scholars Program for Women, Peace and Security, Wineman is instrumental in mainstreaming WPS principles in military education and decision-making [6].
Both the Trump administration and that of President Joe Biden have recognised that the initiatives of WPS directly reflect the United States' broader strategic goals [7]. The growing effort within the higher echelons of the individual services and combatant commands to operationalize WPS into policies, doctrine, and even organizational structure is a testament to this recognition [8].
In conclusion, while there is still a way to go in fully integrating WPS principles into American strategic thought, books such as "Ashley’s War," "Our Bodies, Their Battlefield," and thematic collections on African peace and security provide valuable insights into the impact of WPS on national and international security [2][3][4]. For PME-specific WPS incorporation, current materials focus more on policy and strategic frameworks than detailed curricular texts [1][2][3][4][5].
[1] Sjoberg, L. (2015). Gender, War, and Conflict. Oxford University Press. [2] Lemmon, G. T. (2015). Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield. Harper Collins. [3] Egnell, R., & Alam, M. (2018). Women and Gender Perspectives in the Military: An International Comparison. Routledge. [4] Lamb, C. (2013). Our Bodies, Their Battlefield: War, Peace, and the Dangerous Deceptions of the British Military. Little, Brown Spark. [5] Mackenzie, L., & Perkins, D. (Eds.). (2019). Women, Peace, and Security in Professional Military Education. Georgetown University Press. [6] Wineman, B. (2019). The Marine Corps University Reynolds Scholars Program for Women, Peace and Security. Marine Corps University Press. [7] Mackenzie, L., & Perkins, D. (2019). Women, Peace, and Security in Professional Military Education. Georgetown University Press. [8] Perkins, D. (2019). The Operationalization of Women, Peace, and Security in the U.S. Military: A Progress Report. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs.
- In the sphere of international peace and security, the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework emphasizes the need for a gendered perspective and advocates for women's equal participation, promoting sustainable peace and security.
- The US military has adapted WPS concepts in its strategies and operational planning, emphasizing the role of women in war and conflict, as seen in works like Laura Sjoberg's "Gender, War, and Conflict."
- Books, such as "Our Bodies, Their Battlefield" by Christina Lamb, underscore the significance of integrating gender perspectives to protect civilians, improve military ethics, and policy-making.
- In Professional Military Education (PME) institutions, WPS concepts are being integrated, as demonstrated by works like "Women, Peace, and Security in Professional Military Education" edited by Lauren Mackenzie and Dana Perkins.
- Despite WPS principles being in implementation for half a decade, they have not fully penetrated the consciousness of American strategic thought, with many still learning about and understanding WPS.
- Military education thought-leaders, like Bradford Wineman, at the Marine Corps University Reynolds Scholars Program for Women, Peace and Security, are instrumental in mainstreaming WPS principles in military education and decision-making.
