Strong minds, fit bodies and caring hearts:Exploring gendered narratives of female peacekeepers from Bangladesh

Abstract: This study looks at the politics of increasing the number of female peacekeepers in international peace operations. Through in-depth, semi structured interviews with women police officers from Bangladesh who have served as part of the United Nations Police, the study aims to explore their gendered experience in peace operations. Aimed as an exploratory case study, this research builds on previous feminist queries to argue that international peacekeeping is still highly gendered – where militarized masculinity is valued and femininity is instrumentalised as a quick solution to address sexual and gender based violence and exploitation. Gender balancing as a strategy is currently failing to meet the goal of gender equality and rather promotes the integration of women soldiers on essentialist grounds, not only adding to the roles and tasks women have to perform, but further reinforcing gender stereotypes. The study concludes that acknowledging and valuing the multiplicity of men and women’s experiences and interests during conflict and after in peacekeeping and peacebuilding can lead to achieving a truer meaning of gender equality and to a more stable and inclusive peace.