The Struggle for Gender Equality: Policy Implementation in Argentina's Security Forces.

This article examines the implementation gaps of gender equality policies within Argentina's federal police and security institutions, focusing on the National Gendarmerie. It analyzes three key policies introduced in 2011 aimed at prohibiting discrimination against pregnant or lactating women and those with dependent children, establishing maternity and breastfeeding leave, and ensuring promotion opportunities regardless of pregnancy or lactation status. Despite formal legal mandates, the study finds that entrenched traditional gender roles, institutional barriers such as lack of childcare facilities, and informal discriminatory practices limit the effective implementation of these policies, resulting in a gender-accommodating rather than transformative outcome. The research highlights the critical role of political will, institutional support, and comprehensive implementation instruments in advancing gender equality within militarized, male-dominated security forces.