Feminist International Relations seeks to study the academic discipline with a gendered lens, emphasising the roles gender plays in politics. Feminist scholars (Enloe, 2000 and Tickner, 2001) agree on the principle of the social construction of gender, along with what is institutionally accepted to be characteristics of a ‘man’ or ‘woman’, inherently shapes our behaviour and practices.In this essay, I will begin by analysing the theory of gender alongside the differences between masculinity and femininity, and how these affect the roles, thus experiences of men and women in International Relations. Finally, I will examine how contemporary issues in world politics, namely, war and genocide, militarisation, peace-making and sexual violence are …show more content…
Commercial opinion polls generally show that women tend to be less supportive of war, example being in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, twice the number of men than women, supported intervention (Shepard, 2010:106). In contemporary armed conflicts there is a clear reluctance of taking responsibility for the negotiation of peace, as negotiation generally results with a winner and loser. Political leaders see themselves as patriarchs, so any form of peacemaking must not affect their competitive and protective drive in their masculinity. Since women are accepted to have motherly duties, they become associated with peace-making, which further disenfranchises the position of women having effective opinions in …show more content…
A feminist perspective of International Relations studies the functioning of international relations, rather than offering a reasons for it; it seeks to reveal ways in which the discipline is gendered, but fails to formulate any real solutions. Also, the view that mainstream theories are gendered because it is vastly written by male scholars, is not a sound argument for two reasons: these scholars are still humans whom interact closely with women in their families, which would naturally influence them to take into account gender. Secondly, it is contradictory to say realism or liberalism as theories fail because they do not take the objective stance that they claim to, yet still the same could be said on feminist scholars. It seeks to look at International Relations with a gendered lens, usually missing the central problems which should be given focus, such as causes of war and motivations to upkeep peace-making. Additionally, feminist International Relations faces the criticisms of which is attached to the movement of feminism, including radical forms which promote misandry and the superiority of women over men. However, Sylvester in International Theory: Positivism and Beyond (1996:254-278) correctly argues that Feminist International Relations comes in different in different forms; standpoint, post-structural and Marxist
The article by Laura McEnaney titled Gender Analysis and Foreign Relations is an interesting article focused on a relatively new type of analysis that offers another angle in the world of policymaking. The diplomatic historians who use gender analysis use it in addition to the customary methodologies of the historian to enhance the historian’s studies. Gender analysis has inspired new investigations in the history of men and women and diplomacy, giving way to a new type of understanding of power in a historical context; however gender analysis “enters diplomatic history only through the aegis of culture.”
The Species of the World. Gender and the making of Cold War foreign policy: Imperial Brotherhood. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press. Diamant, L. Eds. of the book.
On September 5, 1995, Hillary Clinton delivered an influential speech at The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Clinton expresses general concern over escalating violence toward women, in other word’s gendercide. “Gendercide refers to the systematic elimination of a specific gender group, normally female. It’s most common in India, China, and other regions in Southeast Asia” (GirlsKind Foundation). Crimes, such as bride trafficking, infanticide, abandonment, and dowry related murder; often take place within private households, going unnoticed and not even acknowledged. “Tragically, women are most often the ones whose human rights are violated. Even now, in the late 20th century, the rape of women continues to be used as an instrument of armed conflict Women and children make up a large majority of the world’s refugees” (Clinton 3). By addressing her speech in Beijing, where gendercide is prevalent, Hillary expressed her objective effectively not just the United Nations, but to audiences across the world. Clinton effectively delivered her speech by portraying her purpose for women to achieve equality and better opportunities, with ethical appeals, emotional appeals, and logical appeals.
Goldstein, Joshua (2001) War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice Versa. Cambridge University Press.
Since the resolution of World War II, the United States has been involved in over fifteen extensive military wars. Recent wars between Iraq and Afghanistan are being fought over several issues which affect women in both the United States and the other nations. While the military is often thought of a male dominated institution, women are present and affected all throughout the system as soldiers, caretakers, partners, and victims. Transnational feminists often fight against war due to the vulnerability that is placed on women during times of war. Despite often being overlooked, there is no doubt that women are heavily included in the devastating consequences of war.
In many ways, 1980’s feminist theories started to peel back the masculinist surface of world politics to address and bring to the surface these intricate gendered and racialized dynamics. Caprioli amongst many, not only asks that there be room for Tickner’s appeal for dialogue with feminist and IR scholars, but demands this to be necessary. Why is it essential for dialogue between these perspectives? Before answering that, we should first try to understand why it is that international politics was...
Feminist social theory ought to challenge the ideals of Classical social theory embodied by the work of authors, such Marx, Durkheim, Weber and Simmel. Such traditional values tend to exclude women from their social analysis of the modern world, as women were considered non social agents. In support of this, Durkheim claim that men were product of society, whereas women belonged to nature, (Harrington: 2005, p.236). Thus, feminist social theory embrace post-enlightenment principles, focusing on values associated to “difference”,”particularism” and “specificity” (Harrington: 2005, p. 233). In order to do so, Feminist social theory has been feed by feminist theories which have similar concern about the study of social world, as both highlight the absence of women figure in modern social studies. Thus, the main key features of feminist social theory are the impact of patriarchy in society; the study of gender differences, the incorporation of different epistemology pretending to palliate social neglect toward women, and the analysis of postmodernist theories (Fulcher & Scott, 2003: 173).
...action with others… especially men. This supplies final substantiation of the authors' argument, that women continue to be oppressed by their male-dominated societies. It is a bold undertaking for women to ally and promote a world movement to abandon sexist traditions. Although I have never lived in a third world or non-Westernized country, I have studied the conditions women suffer as "inferior" to men. In National Geographic and various courses I have taken, these terrible conditions are depicted in full color. Gender inequality is a terrible trait of our global society, and unfortunately, a trait that might not be ready to change. In America we see gender bias towards women in voters' unwillingness to elect more females into high office, and while this is not nearly as severe as the rest of the world, it indicates the lingering practice of gender inequality.
Gender is something that is done. People everyday do actions that define whether they are “masculine” or “feminine”, which helps them define who they are. So therefore in society, there are unsaid gender roles. Gender roles are the stereotypical behaviors that have been carried down for many years. For my “Gender in America” class, the other students and I were told to go into the the “real world” and to watch and observe different gender roles and actions take place in a public setting. Our goals were to see how one acts “masculine” or “feminine” and if gender roles are heavily practiced today. For my “real world” experience I went to a shopping mall. I thought this would be a good place to observe gender roles because of the very popular
Feminist sociology focuses on examining and understanding gender in its relation to power within society as well as individuals. The fundamental principle of feminist sociology is the idea that in most societies, women have been oppressed and that men have been more dominant throughout history. Feminist theory directly relates to feminist sociology. According to the Introduction to Sociology 2e textbook, “feminist theory is a type of conflict theory that examines inequalities in gender-related issues. It uses the conflict approach to examine the maintenance of gender roles and inequalities” (Openstax 261). This paper aims to analyze feminist theory, discuss its history, as well as emphasizing a current social
... for granted. Therefore, it is without a doubt that the incorporation of gender would enrich international relations theory. Tickner, in her critique of Morgenthau has attempted to depict the gender-bias prevalent within the field. By building on Morgenthau’s founding principles in political realism and of international politics, Tickner makes an insightful contribution to the field of international relations by challenging pre-existing paradigms. She is open to Morgenthau’s masculine-embedded principles, and does not refute them but ultimately contends that for complete comprehension of international politics, masculine and feminine contributions must be equally represented. Without a feminist perspective, an incomplete picture of international politics is painted. Feminist perspectives improve our analysis, knowledge and understanding of international politics.
Women and gender studies contribute greatly to our understanding of the social and cultural world we inhabit. Studying the complex issues of this field has instituted many key insights. Two major insights that positively affected our society are the awareness through learning and through this awareness activism that can ensue.
To discuss the relationship between ‘Western Feminism’ and ‘International Feminisms’ we must first create clear definitions of what each term means, implies, and advocates for. Far too often the relationship between the two paradigms has been framed in the traditional framework of
Feminism encompasses diverse perspectives that are liberal, radical, and postmodern versions. Feminism is placed as a separate critique or even the understanding of conventional international relations theory that offers an alternative perspective and starting point for both theory and also practice (Viotti & Kauppi 2011).
“Such an approach helps focus attention on current and emerging threats to the security and well-being of individuals and communities” (UN 2014). Moreover, women are important when it comes to negotiating peace agreements, planning refugee camps, and peacekeeping operations, as well as reconstructing war-torn societies (UNIFEM 2004). A Feminist’s perspective in security studies challenges the focus on military solutions and pushes attention towards addressing structural problems, additionally, they believe in prevention rather than intervention; e.g. civilian solutions rather than military solutions. Feminist’s goals are to resolve issues within the state first. They try to identify the collective needs of the human kind. Human security helps one understand how gender and violence relate. The indication of human security allowed UNIFEM and UN women to work in post-conflict situations which brought people to work together in humanitarian affairs, development, and unquestionably security. Involving more women in International Relations could be a better influence for the world and have positive results but only if both genders