Global heritage governance and women’s everyday (in)security

Abstract

The deliberate targeting of heritage sites by the Islamic State (IS) prompted significant international legal and normative developments linking cultural heritage to global security. However, little is known about whether these responses resonate with the experiences of those most affected by the destruction. This article contrasts global governance frameworks with local experiences through a Feminist Security Studies (FSS) lens. Drawing on interviews with Syrian and Iraqi women, the article identifies four themes: heritage as anchored in identity, belonging and female solidarity; its destruction as trauma and persecution articulated through gendered metaphors; as a rupture of cultural rights and traditional practices; and as a force exacerbating women’s fear, displacement and concerns for personal safety. This expands FSS by identifying heritage destruction as a site of gendered violence, while exposing the limits of prevailing global governance frameworks that continue to marginalize women’s perspectives and reproduce gaps between international regimes and everyday (in)security.