Training military and police peacekeepers on gender | Coffee break research at LSE

The practice of "gender training" has gained widespread popularity among numerous professions in the last few decades, even becoming a requirement for soldiers and police officers deploying overseas as peacekeepers. But what happens when the concept of gender, put forth through feminist activism and scholarship, is taken up by powerful institutions shaped by traditional notions of masculinity? In this talk, Dr Aiko Holvikivi shares findings from her recent book, "Fixing Gender", to discuss the dynamics of this training. She argues that gender training can, paradoxically, both challenge and reinforce existing hierarchies in global politics.

The practice of "gender training" has gained widespread popularity among numerous professions in the last few decades, even becoming a requirement for soldiers and police officers deploying overseas as peacekeepers. But what happens when the concept of gender, put forth through feminist activism and scholarship, is taken up by powerful institutions shaped by traditional notions of masculinity? In this talk, Dr Aiko Holvikivi shares findings from her recent book, "Fixing Gender", to discuss the dynamics of this training. She argues that gender training can, paradoxically, both challenge and reinforce existing hierarchies in global politics.