Equality in Gender Roles and World Peace

Written by Haley Hembree

​“Who run the world? Girls!” Well, not quite. The theory that women alone are the saviors and peacemakers who can bring world peace has been discredited (Hudson, Ballif-Spanvill, Caprioli, & Emmett, 2012). This theory has, however, opened a discussion that should be examined. Women alone may not prevent World War III, but evidence shows that feminism and equality in gender roles might (Hudson, Ballif-Spanvill, Caprioli, & Emmett, 2012). 

Does gender equality reduce war?

Sex and World Peace by Hudson, Ballif-Spanvill, Caprioli, and Emmett (2012) brings a new perspective to the search for world peace based on an old idea. The authors take an interdisciplinary approach to examining the idea that gender equality may result in world peace. The original and most famous debate by Samuel Huntington asserts that democratic states are more reluctant to engage in war, especially with other democratic states (Hudson, Ballif-Spanvill, Caprioli, & Emmett, 2012). This assertion has been empirically confirmed, although the explanation for why democratic states are less likely to engage in war is still being debated. 

​Hudson and colleagues (2012) emphasize that a higher degree of equality in gender roles in democratic states is responsible. Breuning (2013) found that “necessary (but not sufficient) preconditions for the emergence of democracy were monogamy and later marriage, as these reduced the inequality of women and men within the household.” Therefore, the reduced inclination for a nation to go war boils down to “smallest unit of human society: the family” (Breuning, 2013).

Perpetrators of Gender Inequality

​Hudson, Ballif-Spanvill, Caprioli, and Emmett (2012) used their individual research specialties in a variety of disciplines, including political science, psychology, and geography, to create a coherent idea about the importance of gender roles. From a psychological standpoint, a state is more likely to engage in violent conflict if there is a lower status of women in society and family units (Hudson, Ballif-Spanvill, Caprioli, and Emmett, 2012). 

​Breuning (2013) demonstrates that the physical security of women correlates with different measures of peacefulness. This preliminary analysis can help to open a dialogue about the role of gender quality, particularly regarding the status of women, in global stability (Breuning, 2013). 

Fahs (2013) evaluated how Sex and World Peace accomplished its claim: “[The authors] take on a range of perpetrators—academics who perpetuate the absence of women in international relations courses and scholarship; policymakers who ignore convincing data about the role of women in producing healthy and successful societies; public health ‘experts’ who forget about the ‘microaggressions’ women face (lack of bodily security, lack of equity in family law, lack of parity in decision-making and government); and the US media, who all-too-willingly ignore women (particularly outside of the US) and the different challenges they face.” These perpetrators all add to lowering the status of women and, thus, possibly making the road to world peace that much more difficult (Fahs, 2013).

What Can Be Done to Promote Gender Equality?

Sex and World Peace offers a call to action and a proposed double-sided solution. First, governments and institutions must enact policies on the behalf of women. “Those countries that promote gender equity, include women in government, have lower sex-skewed ratios, educate women, and forcefully prosecute violence against women end up with societies that thrive” (Fahs, 2013). Second, gender equality must be enacted at the grassroots level. For example, each woman should look out for other women and be mindful of protecting one another until each person is both protected and protecting others, leading this network of women to work as one unit (Fahs, 2013). 

It is important to enforce national policies that support the equal status of women, but it is just as important for women to look out for one another and men to look out for women on a personal level. Gender equality begins in the home. Creating an environment of equality at home can lead to widespread effects. Children in such an environment will learn to expect equal opportunities in education and physical security. Romantic partners will learn to expect equal divisions of labor and respect. Peers will learn to expect equal participation in the work force and politics. By using everyday relationships as a model to inspire equality, each person could, in turn, encourage a society of justice that is one step closer to global stability.

References

Breuning, M. (2013). Why world peace depends on gender equality in the family. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 19(3), 311-312.

Hudson, V. M., Ballif-Spanvill, B., Caprioli, M., & Emmett, C. F. (2012). Sex and World Peace. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
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Fahs, B. (2013).  Review of Sex and World Peace. Feminism & Psychology, 24(3), 408-409.