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Unit information: Gender and Security in 2022/23


Unit name Gender and Security
Unit code POLIM0045
Credit points 20
Level of study M/7
Unit director Dr. Medie
Open unit status Not open




School/department School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies
Faculty Faculty of Social Sciences and Law


This unit provides an introduction to the concepts of gender and security and an analysis of how they are connected in international politics. It draws on feminist and international relations theories to explore the cultural, historical, and political foundations of gender and of security. Key questions that will be addressed in this unit are: What is gender? What is security? How does gender intersect with security? How do these concepts travel to non-Western settings? How have feminists engaged with security? How and why are major political phenomena, such as armed conflict, peacebuilding, the economy, displacement, and climate change gendered and what are the implications for men and women? The unit begins with an examination of key theories, concepts, and debates in gender studies, security studies, and feminist international relations and of how they are interconnected. The unit then draws on these theories, concepts, and debates to analyse gender and (in)security in the past and present. It analyses the causes and dynamics of women’s and men’s (in)security in varied geographical, political, and social contexts with a focus on the themes of armed conflict, gender-based violence, peacebuilding, the economy, the environment, women’s political participation, refugees and migration, and feminist methodologies. The first part of the unit focuses on key concepts, theories, and debates, while the second part uses them as tools to conduct in-depth analyses of specific issues.

Unit Aims:

To introduction the concepts of gender and security and their interconnections.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of gender and security.
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the key debates surrounding the concepts of gender and security.
  3. Develop the ability to use gender as an analytical lens to study security.
  4. Demonstrate an ability to critically apply relevant theoretical and conceptual frameworks to relevant historical and contemporary events and phenomena in the areas of gender and security.
  5. Develop the ability to integrate theoretical and empirical materials.

Teaching details


Assessment Details

Students will be assessed using an in-class presentation (formative) and a 4000-word essay (100%)

All assessments cover all ILOs.


