Logo: to the web site of the Swedish Defence University

Gender differences have been observed regarding many political and social issues, yet welack comprehensive evidence on differences in perceptions on a wide range of securityissues increasingly important to voters: military threats, criminality, and terrorism.Previous research suggests that when women are highly politically mobilized, as they arein Sweden, gender differences in political opinion are large. On the other hand, Swedishpoliticians have worked hard to reduce gender stereotypical thinking. This prompts thequestion: Are there gender differences in attitudes on security issues in Sweden, and if so,in what ways do the attitudes differ? This study is based on comprehensive data from focusgroups and a large-scale survey. The results show that women were more prone to respondwith an “ethic of care,” across security issues. Women were more inclined to understandsecurity problems as structural, explained by macho culture, segregation, and injustice.Women tend to support preventive measures that provide individuals with opportunities tochoose “the right path,” such as education and economic investment in deprived areas.When asked about national security, women believe more in diplomacy and dialogue. Ingeneral, women are less inclined to support various repressive solutions.