The invisible intellectuals: Female academics in security and international politics

Woman power: Normah made history when she was made Malaysia’s first female counter-terrorism chief. — PDRM Facebook

ON Feb 16, Malaysia saw history being made when SAC Normah Ishak became the first female principal assistant director of the Special Branch’s Counterterrorism Division (E8). This is a significant milestone for Malaysian women on the frontlines of keeping the country safe from internal and external security threats.

It seems that women are finally getting the recognition in a field that most deem masculine and “manly”. However, I would like to highlight the important issue of the invisibility of female academics in this field.