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Europe’s security landscape is changing rapidly – shaped by war, the climate crisis and economic uncertainty. Yet how threatened people feel depends strongly on gender. A new analysis by the FES Regional Office Vienna shows how profound these differences are – and why they must be taken more seriously in security policy.
Çağatay, Selin
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Europe’s security situation is undergoing a profound transformation. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the growing militarisation of many states, the economic disruptions following the pandemic and the energy crisis, the escalating consequences of climate change, and an unstable transatlantic order all mark a period of global uncertainty. These developments are not only geopolitical but also social in nature – they shape how people in Europe perceive security, which threats they consider central, and what political measures they support.
A crucial factor in these debates is gender. Gender roles, social expectations and economic circumstances influence how men and women assess risks and set priorities. While traditional narratives cast women as “victims” and men as “protectors,” current data reveal a far more complex picture: men and women differ significantly in their concerns, attitudes and preferences – yet these differences are not linear. They are closely intertwined with age, income, employment status and the national political context.
At a time when right-wing populist and anti-gender movements are gaining influence across Europe, it becomes clear how strongly gendered views of security are shaped by social conflict. Militarisation can reinforce existing inequalities by reproducing a societal order in which social protection becomes secondary. At the same time, cuts in welfare spending, an ageing population and the climate crisis place a heavier burden on women – particularly those in precarious living conditions.
The gender analysis in Security Radar 2025 examines these dynamics and asks: What role does gender play in perceptions of security, war and global threats in Europe? How strongly do social and national contexts shape gendered attitudes? And what political conclusions follow from these findings?
The study is based on a representative survey of more than 12,300 people in six OSCE states – France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and Ukraine – combining a feminist geopolitical perspective with detailed empirical data. It shows that women express greater and more frequent concern – for example about personal safety, economic stability, climate change or wars. At the same time, men express stronger fears in certain areas – notably migration. These findings make one thing clear: gender is a key factor for understanding perceptions of security. But it is not the only one – rather, it interacts with age, economic situation and national context.
In doing so, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of Europe’s current security debates and calls for a shift in perspective: blanket assumptions that women are inherently peace-oriented and men naturally militaristic fall short. What is needed instead is a nuanced view that links security, social and climate policy.
Women are significantly more concerned about their personal safety, economic situation and future – especially those aged 50–59 and women in financially disadvantaged groups. In all six countries, women report greater worries about the future, particularly in midlife (50–59 years). But also among the 18-29 year-olds, women expressed greater levels of worry.
Middle-aged women and low-income men tend to favour investment in social security over defence spending. Up to 87 % of women aged 50–59 (e.g. in Türkiye) reject cuts in social spending in favour of military budgets.
Women express more concern about war and climate change, while more men tend to see uncontrolled migration as the main threat.
When filtered for those who are not just worried, but ‘very worried’, differences are particularly stark among young adults (18–29): young women worry more about climate change and war, young men about migration. Anti-gender and right-wing populist discourses appear to shape gendered threat perceptions among young people.en in Prozent)
Men assess the war’s impact on NATO and the EU more positively than women. Women are more likely to see advantages for Russia and to take a more pessimistic view of the future.
Women tend to support diplomatic solutions and value shared principles in cooperation with other states
National context outweighs gender differences in many security-related questions. Factors such as economic strength, proximity to conflict zones and NATO membership are decisive. When asked for their assessment of their country’s future, Europe’s future, and the future of the world, in Türkiye and Ukraine, citizens almost unanimously expect a deterioration in security – regardless of gender.
Security policy must mean more than military deterrence. The study shows that policymakers who want to build inclusive and future-oriented policies must take gender differences seriously – without falling back on stereotypes. The following five recommendations are aimed at European decision-makers:
Security is not only about external defence but also about social and ecological stability. Jobs, education, healthcare and climate protection must be integral to the concept of security.Goal: align security policy with people’s lived realities, not just geopolitical threats.
Women are not automatically against military spending, nor are men automatically in favour. Political communication and policy design should take into account socio-economic conditions and life stage – for instance, low-income men or middle-aged women.Goal: targeted engagement instead of blanket stereotypes.
Gender worry gaps are issue-specific – climate (women) versus migration (men). Among young adults, the contrasts are especially strong. Stereotypes of “men as protectors” and “women as victims” must be actively challenged.Goal: counter anti-gender rhetoric with factual, inclusive communication.
Men more often see NATO and the EU as strengthened, women as weakened. Institutions like NATO should link security messaging to narratives that better reflect women’s values and concerns.Goal: build trust in multilateral institutions through gender-differentiated approaches.
While women rate climate protection as particularly important, they do not automatically prioritise international cooperation over men. Foreign policy should appeal to both rational interests and shared values.Goal: strengthen willingness to cooperate – without moralising, but with clear common objectives.
An inclusive security strategy recognises that experiences of security differ by gender, age and income. Only on that basis can policymakers offer effective responses to an increasingly uncertain world.
Security Radar 2025 is a recurring opinion survey conducted by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Regional Office for International Cooperation to capture public attitudes in Europe towards foreign and security policy. For this edition, over 14,000 people in six OSCE states – France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Türkiye and Ukraine – were surveyed in September 2024. The special feature of this report is its focus on gender-specific differences – from perceptions of security and threat to preferences in foreign policy.
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