I wrote something. #Coronavirus, #women, and how it’s reshaping how we view #security. The United States has a big opportunity to get it right. https://oursecurefuture.org/publications/security-for-all-covid19-response
@oursecurefuture our projects focus on the fact that the full participation of leads to better security outcomes. #coronavirus proves our point. Weapons systems, troop numbers are insufficient to define “security.” And maybe it takes a #pandemic to reconsider our approach.
There’s certainly great work out there on #coronavirus and women by our colleagues talking about the increase of domestic violence women face, and the undue burden on female #frontlineworkers. But how do we do better?
We wanted to look more broadly than that. Specifically, as governments review how they addressed #coronavirus, they need to consider #gender.
This isn’t just a good idea, it’s actually the law. And specifically for the US, the Department of Homeland Security has a mandate to do it. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1141
We know that women view security differently, and it’s critical we consider this perspective and expand our perspective from hard security issues like https://oursecurefuture.org/publications/transforming-security
We know that considering women leads to better outcomes! https://oursecurefuture.org/publications/women-non-violent-campaigns-brief
We can start now, simply by analyzing data we’re collecting now from a #genderperspective. How did women fare compared to men for Small Business loans? Who did the bulk of the unpaid work. Death tolls and the #DowJones are simply not the complete story of #coronavirus.
Congress can take action by making sure that @DHSgov is guiding state, local and tribal governments on how to do it. Hopefully this is helpful to the new Women, Peace and Security Caucus and its great leaders @RepLoisFrankel and @RepMichaelWaltz.