The Securitization of Gender

[Shana A]

The Securitization of Gender

Filed By Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | September 13, 2011 9:00 AM

http://www.bilerico.com/2011/09/the_securitization_of_gender.php

A fascinating article is coming out in this Summer/Fall's edition of "Social Research." Written by the highly-regarded Brooklyn College political scientist Paisley Currah along with Tara Mulqueen, it makes the point that use of gender by the Transportation Security Administration reduces security not only for transgender individuals, but also for the TSA and the nation.

Gender is one of the few pieces of biometric information currently in use, and biometric information is seen as the "holy grail" of securitization. Thus, TSA has been unwilling to drop the use of gender from identification schemes despite the fact that it causes major problems for transgender passengers.

Currah and Mulqueen make the fascinating point that use of gender in securitization produces less security, rather than more.

[Ann Onymous]

TSA as a composite whole does precisely jack-schit towards the goal of providing security.  Airport security in the United States is a farce as anyone who has ever been outside of a terminal can attest.  Perhaps TSA can get back to us when they finally DO thwart an act of terrorism instead of catching someone with a baggie of weed stuffed in their pants or sock...

The masses would do well to remember that the events of 9/11 were not carried out with prohibited items...everything used in those flights was perfectly legal to carry on with the passenger...

[mimpi]

Well said, Ann.

Whole business is ridiculous, paranoia inducing and money making. Even in places where  terrorism is totally out of control more people are killed by food poisoning, road traffic accidents or peanut allergies... The concepts of what suspects should look like and what names they should have is even more stupid. Beggars belief that this crap continues.