Female human capital in intelligence: women in Colombia’smilitary intelligence

Pamela Pirateque Perdomo; Angela Gabriela Ramírez Muñoz; Kelly Stefania Ulloa Sánchez

doi:10.47741/17943108.730

Authors

Pamela Pirateque Perdomo Escuela de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia “BG. Ricardo Charry Solano” (ESICI) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5993-3484 (unauthenticated)
Angela Gabriela Ramírez Muñoz Escuela de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia “BG. Ricardo Charry Solano” (ESICI) https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2351-6150 (unauthenticated)
Kelly Stefania Ulloa Sánchez Escuela de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia “BG. Ricardo Charry Solano” (ESICI) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3119-5870 (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47741/17943108.730

Keywords:

Intelligence, women, human capital, skills, army and security

Abstract

Gender-based stereotypes in security and defence have limited women’s role in intelligence. Despite that, women’s capital has developed based on their cognitive and socio-emotional skills, that contribute to the understanding of securitisation and decision-making in highly uncertain scenarios. This paper uses grounded theory design under a qualitative methodology to demonstrate the human capital of military women in Colombia through a literature review on women’s role in intelligence and human capital usage, supported by eight semi-structured interviews with Colombian military women and intelligence agents. Thus, this article is a theorical contribution to gender studies in the security, defence and intelligence fields, supported by innovative knowledge on the matter taking into consideration the Colombian case. The study yields four conclusions: women’s participation in security is influenced by masculinised socio-cultural contexts that reaffirm gender stereotypes; female human capital represents a valuable asset for intelligence activities and political-military decision-making; military women face a double demand to perform their work activities while preserving their feminine role; establishing spaces that do not restrict women’s recognition and promotion in Colombian intelligence remains an ongoing challenge.

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Author Biographies

Pamela Pirateque Perdomo, Escuela de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia “BG. Ricardo Charry Solano” (ESICI)

Master in Strategic Intelligence from the School of Intelligence and Counterintelligence "BG Ricardo Charry Solano" (ESICI). Professional in Politics and International Relations from Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Colombia). She is an advisor and researcher for the Department of Science, Technology, Research and Doctrine (DECTID) of the ESICI. She has worked as a teacher in Strategic Intelligence, International Relations Theories, European Studies, Regional Integration and Research Methodology in ESICI and Universidad Sergio Arboleda. Her research interest are: strategic intelligence; security and defense; international security; conflict and peace; gender and security; and strategic communications. She is the main author of the book “Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) and social media: its applicability for the post-Wesphalian world” and the book “(Re)thinking women from their role in intelligence: an approach to the dynamics that integrate women in glocal security and defense spaces”.
Angela Gabriela Ramírez Muñoz, Escuela de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia “BG. Ricardo Charry Solano” (ESICI)

Master in Conflict, Memory and Peace from Universidad del Rosario (Colombia). International Relations professional from Universidad del Rosario (Colombia) with a minor in security, peace and conflict. She works as an advisor and researcher for the Department of Science, Technology, Research and Doctrine (DECTID) of the ESICI. Her research interest are: gender and security; international security; queer issues and security; peace; crime dynamics; and global south studies. She is the author of three book chapters from the book (Re)thinking women from their role in intelligence: an approach to the dynamics that integrate women in glocal security and defense spaces and the research paper “the influence of narratives on women’s participation in security analytical frameworks” with Pamela Pirateque Perdomo and Uriel Antonio Sánchez Adarraga.
Kelly Stefania Ulloa Sánchez, Escuela de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia “BG. Ricardo Charry Solano” (ESICI)

Professional in International Relations and Political Studies at the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada. She was a young researcher at Universidad Militar Nueva Granada in a project called “Effects of Illegal income on income distribution on Colombia, 2015-2019: a (re)estimation of the 2022 GINI index”. Her research interest are: politics and sociology; economics and society; culture and development; and security and defense. She has been the author of some chapters from the book “(Re)thinking women from their role in intelligence: an approach to the dynamics that integrate women in glocal security and defense spaces” and the paper “Exploración de la memoria y escenarios de reparación simbólica desde el caso colombiano” (2021) with Pamela Pirateque Perdomo (https://doi.org/10.47961/2145194X.222).

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