Abstract

MONROY HERNANDEZ, María Catalina; ORTEGA GOMEZ, Andrés Felipe; DIAZ VALLENOTI, Gustavo Adolfo  and  MESA PAYARES, Jeison. An Approach to Urban Security Studies in Caracas. Rev. Cient. Gen. José María Córdova [online]. 2013, vol.11, n.11, pp.155-171. ISSN 1900-6586.

The security discourse has historically been reserved for masculine elite. Feminist approaches towards security studies elaborated mainly by Ann Tickner (1995) and Valerie M. Hudson (2012) state that the security-masculinity association extends into civilian life in the sense that gender inequality is a form of violence. Studies that relate urban security with a gender perspective are rare, therefore limiting effective solutions due to the occurrence of violence inside the cities. There is a lack of a gender perspective in the making of security policies in Latin America, provoking greater violence, crime and inequality. This article recommends that a gender approach to urban security represents a novel alternative to solve problems of violence and insecurity in cities. The study case that was chosen to demonstrate this was the city of Caracas. Applying a gender perspective will provide knowledge not only for this particular case but also for other cities in Latin America. The paper focuses on results of research led by the Woman Stats organization that facilitates the understanding of the relationship between the situation of women and the security of nationstates (WomanStats.org). It also contributes to gender and urban security studies in an effort for reconsidering the meanings of peace and security from a feminist perspective.

Keywords : Gender perspective; Citizen Security; Gender Violence; Caracas.

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