Obstacles Hindering the Involvement of Uniformed Women in Peace Keeping Operations at The Immigration Department in Dodoma, Tanzania
Keywords:
Uniformed women, Peacekeeping operations, Obstacles, Dodoma, TanzaniaAbstract
This study aimed to examine the obstacles hindering the involvement of uniformed women (UW) in peacekeeping operations (PO) within the Immigration Department in Dodoma, Tanzania. Being guided by conflict theory, the study adopted a constructivist research philosophy, utilizing a qualitative research approach and a case study design. Data were collected from 16 key informants through document review and in-depth interviews. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and presented in narrative form, supported by direct quotations. The findings revealed several obstacles limiting the involvement of UW in PO, including inadequate support systems, cultural norms and societal attitudes such as hesitation of male colleagues to follow a female team leader in peacekeeping operations, limited access to opportunities and a hostile work environment i.e. gender biasness and discriminatory deployment practices. The study concluded that the participation of UW in PO at the Immigration Department remained low, largely due to perceptions of bias and lack of transparency in the selection criteria. To address these challenges, the study recommends that the Immigration Department establish transparent and objective selection processes, involving an independent selection committee to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for UW in peacekeeping operations.
References
Alungat, B. (2021). The Role of Women Combatants and Non Combatants in Peace and Security in Uganda. Ugandan Journal of Management and Public Policy Studies, 20(1), 102-114.Bokeriya, S. A. (2021). Women’s participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations: overcoming barriers. Africa and the Formation of the New System of International Relations: Rethinking Decolonization and Foreign Policy. Concepts, 1, 207-216.
Choedon, Y. (2022). Uniformed Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations. Journal of Defence Studies, 16(3), 231-255.
Duncanson, C., & Woodward, R. (2016). Regendering the military: Theorizing women’s military participation. Security Dialogue, 47(1), 3–21.
Hofmann, A. H. (2019). Scientific Writing and Communication: Papers, Proposals and Presentation. 4th Edition. London: Oxford University Press.
Holmes, G. (2019). Situating agency, embodied practices and norm implementation in peacekeeping training. International Peacekeeping, 26(1), 55-84.
Kang’ung’u, F. K., & Ichani, X. F. (2023). Gender Mainstreaming Policies and Women Participation in Peace Support Operations: A Case of Kenya’s Contingents in African Mission in Somalia, 2011-2020. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 7(3), 34-60.
Karim, S., & Beardsley, K. (2022). Ladies last: Peacekeeping and gendered protection 1. In Gender, peace and security (pp. 62-96). Routledge.
Katzenstein, P. J. (2018). Cultural norms and national security: Police and military in postwar Japan. Cornell University Press.
Manyerere, D. J. (2017). Entering in and sustaining a career in male-dominated jobs: an examination of female security guards' experiences in Iringa region, Tanzania. International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2(3), 241-262.
Newby, V. F., & Sebag, C. (2021). Gender sidestreaming? Analysing gender mainstreaming in national militaries and international peacekeeping. European journal of international security, 6(2), 148-170.
Nsengimana, L. (2018). African Female Military in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. (Doctoral dissertation, US Army Command and General Staff College).
Oberschall, A. (2010). Conflict theory (177-193). Handbook of politics: State and society in global perspective. Routgle.
Oberschall, A. (2022). Conflict theory (177-193). Handbook of politics: State and society in global perspective. London. Routgle.Owuor, V. (2021). The Role of United Nations Peacekeeping Female Engagement Teams in Peace Support Operations in Africa: a Case Study of Democratic Republic of Congo. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nairobi).
Sambaiga, R. F. (2020). Women's Agency: Promoting, Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism in Tanzania and Kenya. Politeia, 39(1), 02568845.
Sedek, N. F. (2018). Marxist Conflict Theory as a Theory of Crime. Academia: Accelerating the World’s Research.
Sikhulekile, N., & Jeffrey, K. (2018). Participation of Uniformed Women in Peacekeeping Missions in Liberia and East Timor. Current Educational Research, 1(1), 46-59.
UNCOPS. (2022). Addressing key challenges facing united nations peacekeeping through action for peacekeeping + (A4P+). United Nations.
URT. (2024). About Immigration Department. Retrieved from https://immigration.go.tz/index.php/about-us
Wilen, N., & Heinecken, L. (2018). Women now make up almost 24 percent of South Africa’s military: Why aren’t they treated equally? The Washington Post. Legal Assistance Center.
Zemburuka, I. (2019). An analysis of women participation in peacekeeping missions since the implementation of UNSCR 1325: A case study of the Namibian Defence Force. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Namibia).
