Feminist peace
Amid global conflicts and a pervasive political landscape of militarism, MenEngage Alliance has become a powerful space for organisations to radically reimagine masculinities as part of feminist peacebuilding efforts. Through MenEngage Alliance, and working in tandem with feminist partners, members have brought the patriarchal foundations of war to the forefront of high-level policy discussions.
We work to expose the links between dominant masculine gender norms and a culture of militarism — norms that often go unchallenged thanks to powerful political and economic interests that normalise the idea that war is inevitable. We know this is not the case, and have made strides in amplifying alternative visions based on care, cooperation, and peace.
Among our membership are some of the world’s most effective voices for exposing how harmful ideas about being a man relate not only to individual violence, but to conflicts on national, regional, and global scales. Individually, and through MenEngage Alliance, they are advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in a time of rising geopolitical tensions.
Through MenEngage Alliance and bottom-up partnerships, these organisations collectively unpack and highlight the intersections of militarisation with issues such as gender-based violence, the climate crisis, and sexual and reproductive health rights. We aim to advance the recognition that effectively addressing conflict and building sustainable peace requires the fundamental and simultaneous transformation of patriarchal systems, militarised economies, and colonial legacies.
Key MenEngage resources on men, masculinities, and feminist peace
- Discussion paper on Peace-building and Countering Militarism
- Webinar recordings on militarised masculinities (YouTube)
- Policy agenda on women, peace and security developed for the Generation Equality Forum Action Coalition on this theme