ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses oppression of women and the concept 'patriarchy' that determines virtually all human enterprises while illustrating the historical and social dimensions of women's exploitation and oppression. Gender can be used as an essential element in understanding social structure and the origin of violence. The root of violence is found in privileging masculine values in the process of establishing social and cultural distinctions between different gender roles. Disregard for feminine values attached to the vision of a just and nonviolent world is seen as a cause of war and violence. In the feminine mode of viewing the world, an adversarial state-centric security system negatively affects the conditions for protecting the most fundamental roots of survival embodied in health and a decent quality of life. The military-dependent present world security system itself is seen as a major threat to humanity. The high cost of military spending puts a strain on meeting social and economic needs.
