It’s March – Women’s History Month, and the month in which we celebrate International Women’s Day. WIWIP feels very strongly that it is important to highlight and showcase the many brilliant women working in the fields of war studies, defence, security, international relations and international politics, so this year, starting in March and as part of our efforts to mark IWD, we’re going to be sharing brief interviews with some of the fantastic women with which we have the enormous privilege of working with and learning from.
Today we are very excited to introduce you to Anna Plunkett, a final year doctoral candidate here at the Department of War Studies at KCL. Anna is also the Editor-in-Chief of Strife, the academic blog and journal of the DWS.
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey?
I completed my MA in Post-War Recovery at the University of York in 2015. As part of the course I completed work in Bosnia and along the Thai-Myanmar border working on issues such as displacement, reintegration and post-war democratisation. Since then I have continued to work as a Human Rights Researcher with several grassroots organisations in Myanmar’s borderlands. Alongside this I worked on several nation-wide research trials in health and education in the UK. Though I enjoyed the scope of these projects my fascination with post-war transition processes continued. As such I applied for the PhD and started my current project here in the War Studies Department in 2016.
Do you think that gender discrimination affects your area of research/work at all, and if so, what do you do to deal with and overcome this?
I would say the assumption of how or what work is appropriate is often defined by people’s gender stereotypes. Many people are surprised to find out I work within conflict affected communities and have conducted multiple solo trips to conflict affected environments for research. Moreover, the assumption that this work is more notable or engaging than other forms of research that would be more ‘typical’ is in itself discriminatory and undervalues the contributions various research methods and perspectives bring to our understanding of security studies. I always work to establish a clear outline of the work I do and why this research is appropriate for me and the questions I wish to work on. I also make a point of highlighting the limitations of this and advantages of other methods. Research methodology should be appropriate for a research question and not defined by the ‘type’ of researcher you are.
In your opinion, what are the most effective practices to promote diversity and solidarity among women in your field?
The most effective practices for me have most recently focused on solidarity and support. This year, as I write up, I have gained so much from joining both formal and informal work groups with other women. They have helped me maintain motivation, commitment and ward off imposter syndrome throughout the multiple lockdowns.
Can you tell us a bit about any recent specific project(s) you have worked on or that you are particularly proud of?
This year I founded the Women in Writing Programme at Strife Blog and Journal. I have been thrilled to see this scheme come into fruition. Through a competitive recruitment process we selected 21 women from the War Studies MA and alumni cohorts to participate in a mentoring and publishing scheme. The women involved have all published excellent first pieces this winter and are working on their second submissions at present. It has been so impressive to see the great work and research they are completing, highlighting the diverse interest of women in the security field.
Over the year we have organised a programme of events as part of the scheme. These have included workshops on writing and publishing, careers discussions and networking opportunities. It has been so humbling to see the scheme together and to see such a great set of women work together to create a supportive and fun community around writing, studying and career planning.
WIWIP is currently hosting a workshop series to tackle issues like Imposter Syndrome and achieving professional fulfilment. Do you have any specific ways in which you deal with things like self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy?
This year my professional peer support networks has become indispensable to me through lockdown and trying to finish my PhD. To realise that I am not alone, and my concerns are far from unique has made such a difference to how I perceive my own progress and work. I have had some excellent support and motivation from mentors who have pushed me to go for opportunities I would have otherwise not pursued. But when it has come to those moments where you question any and all of your work, it has been my colleagues and peers who have taken the time for a call or a coffee to get me through, they remain indispensable to me.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? How do you celebrate it?
International Women’s Day remains such an important date to me as I think it is so important to highlight not only the successes but challenges women face. There is such diversity in both these areas. The assumption and typecasting of women, their achievements, their struggles and the diversity in their experiences is so often oversimplified and overlooked. I love reading the profiles and histories that are brought to the fore as part of IWD of women, who despite substantive contributions, remain far from household names. It fascinates me to see the breadth of contributions and work by women.
The UN theme for IWD 2021 addresses the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for gender equality. In your opinion, what challenges does the pandemic pose to the creation of a more equal society? What can we do to try to overcome this?
I think the pandemic has really put a spotlight on the continuing inequality within broader society. Equality is not just about new opportunities and access, though this remains a serious obstacle of course. It is also about the sharing of responsibilities and roles traditionally held by women, including sharing the mental burden and organisation responsibilities that are often overlooked. I feel the pandemic has brought this issue into the spotlight for a lot of people. It is now a matter of continuing these discussions and identifying methods for proactively with it as part of the recovery effort from the pandemic.
What advice would you give to women students who wish to work in the same field as you?
To go for it. Do not let others views on your appropriateness or suitability cover what you are passionate about. Seek out advice and support from people you want to be your mentors, it is always worth asking and taking that risk. If you find out they are not the right person, or it is not the right opportunity then you gained something from that experience and interaction. Do not be afraid to ask for help or guidance, you’ll be surprised at what opportunities emerge from just discussing your ideas with people.