Gendered labor in the making of United States policy on Women, Peace and Security: an interagency perspective

The United States (US) government has played an active role in developing the global agenda on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), though it has not always been at the leading edge of WPS initiatives. What factors explain the apparent disconnect between public professions of support for WPS by the government and the realities of implementation? Drawing on interviews with 35 current and former government officials tasked with the implementation of WPS mandates across different government agencies, I argue that progress on WPS goals has been hindered by gendered labor dynamics and neoliberal logics that stereotype and devalue work related to the agenda. At the same time, I argue that interviewee comments suggest that there are opportunities for change, with some interviewees steering agencies toward implementation plans that are focused both inward and outward.