International Review of the Red Cross

Table of Contents - 01 March 2010 - Volume 92, Issue 877 (Women)  

Women

Women, armed conflict and language – Gender, violence and discourse

Laura J. Shepherda1 c1

a1 Laura J. Shepherd is Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Birmingham, UK. She is the editor of Gender Matters in Global Politics and the author of Gender, Violence and Security: Discourse as Practice, as well as many scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals, including International Studies Quarterly, Review of International Studies and Journal of Gender Studies.

Abstract

Facilitating critical reflection on the words and concepts used to write policy enables practitioners to avoid unconsciously reproducing the different forms of oppression and exclusion that their policies seek to overcome. In this article, the author provides an analysis of Chapter 5.10 of the United Nations Integrated Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Standards, arguing that policy makers, scholars, students and practitioners cannot avoid making and/or changing meaning through their well-meaning interventions, but that this need not lead to political or practical inertia.

Correspondence:

c1 Email:L.J.Shepherd@bham.ac.uk