The security gap

With the increasingly significant role that women play in national defence, will perceptions change or are current attitudes towards women in uniform here to stay?

Members event, Panel Recording
7 March 2023 — 6:00PM TO 7:00PM
Chatham House and Online

The security gap: The role of women in modern militaries

— With the increasingly significant role that women play in national defence, will perceptions change or are current attitudes towards women in uniform here to stay?

Women have been part of armed conflicts for all of human history, serving alongside men, as well as in their own distinctive units.

More recently, scores of women are involving themselves in Kurdish resistance fighting, being deployed in Syria as fighter pilots for Israel’s Armed Forces and serving on Ukrainian frontlines.

Women have been integrated into militaries around the world including in the Canadian, Swedish and Norwegian armies to name a few.

This discussion aims to tackle some of the following questions:

  • What are some of the challenges that more inclusive militaries bring and can these challenges be overcome?
  • Can more inclusive militaries help solve the human resources problems that many modern militaries face?
  • Are attitudes changing as more women serve in combat? 
  • What are the opportunities for women in militaries and in wider defence efforts?

As with all member events, questions from the audience drive the conversation.

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