Masks and Veils: Uncovering Gender Inequalities from COVID-19 in Iran and Their Threat to U.S. Security
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic in Iran is not only a health crisis--its disproportionate effects on women and girls pose a security crisis that threatens U.S. vital national interests of peace and stability within the region. Gendered socio-economic disparities in Iran, exacerbated by the pandemic, have profound implications for U.S. national security. First, an intensified economic downturn destabilizes the region by encouraging a weakened Iran to deflect domestic turmoil by escalating the long-running conflict with the United States. Secondly, gender-biased economic and health impacts could create a geopolitical conflict with an elevated risk of internally displaced people seeking refuge. Further, this crisis also creates new opportunities for U.S. Great Power competitors--Russia and China--to expand their soft power influence in Iran by exploiting U.S. missteps in the Middle East. Under these circumstances, the U.S. must pursue a female-focused theater security strategy to coordinate a combination of various levers of national power, also known as smart power. This approach includes re-engaging diplomatic, humanitarian, and economic tools of power, emphasizing medical aid and economic support to Iranian women, using a multilateral framework of regional partners, allies, and organizations to build partner capacity and manage these security challenges.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1198369
Entities
People
- Allison Cameron
Organizations
- Naval War College