Though the defense ministry has been a bastion of male power, a growing number of states have appointed women to this portfolio. In this talk, we begin by briefly showing that women first access the defense ministry when the portfolio's focus expands beyond traditionally masculine policy arenas (such as war) to emphasize issues like peacekeeping and human rights. We then show that men and women ministers' policy priorities are largely explained by the conditions that bring women into (or keep them out of) office, rather than innate gender differences. Women’s presence is, however, linked to gender-equality policy. Finally, we briefly discuss whether and how the appointment of women ministers affects citizens’ beliefs about the defense ministry. 

SPEAKERS

Diana Z. O'Brien | Albert Thomas Associate Professor of Political Science, Rice University

Tiffany D. Barnes | Professor of Political Science, University of Kentucky

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