Feminism in International

Relations
 Feminism

Feminismistheadvocacyofwomen'srightsonthegroundoftheequalityofthe
sexes.

Feminismisabroadtermgiventoworksofthosescholarswhohavesoughtto
bringgenderconcernsintotheacademicstudyofinternationalpolitics.Intermsof
internationalrelations(IR)theoryitisimportanttounderstandthatfeminismis
derivedfromtheschoolofthoughtknownasreflectionism.
The Feminist turn in IR
SincetheendoftheColdWarandtheincreasedinterdependenceresultingfromthe
globalizationprocess,thefieldofinternationalrelationshasfacedmajorchallengestoitscore
theoreticalstructure.Itnolongerrevolvessolelyaroundtherealistissuesofwarandsecurity,
butrather,internationalrelationshasbroadenedtoincludetraditionallyliberalconcerns,suchas
theinternationalpoliticaleconomy,socioeconomicdevelopment,humanrights,nonstateactors,
andcivilsociety.Apartfromthetwomaintheoriesofrealismandliberalism,thefeministtheory
bringsnewperspectivestotheinternationalrelationstable.Thispaperwillconsiderthefeminist
theoryininternationalrelations,andwhatcanbelearnedfromthisperspective.
 Main ideas
Defining two key terms -- gender and patriarchy

Genderisnotasynonymforthetermsex,orthebiologicaldifferencebetween
menandwomen,butinsteadreferstothecomplexsocialconstructionofmens
andwomensidentities...[and]behaviors...inrelationtoeachother.

Lorraine Code helps us to understand the second term

critical to feminist theory, patriarchy, which she
defines as a system in which females are subordinate to
men, in terms of power and status, and which is based
on the belief that it is right and proper for men to
command and women to obey.
nnotes,therecanneverbeatrulysingularvoiceoffeministforeignpolicysimplybecauseofthedi

rimeexampleofpatriarchy,inbothitspracticeandaccomplishments
 Standpoint theory
genderedconstructionofknowledgewhichhelpstounderstandtraditionaltopicsininternationalrela

alertingustotheideathatgendermaybestructuringhowwethinkintheinternationalcontex

purposeanddefinitionoftheoryisinitselfmalecentered,becauseitisappraisingly
normativeratherthanconjecturalandanalytic.

Inthiscase,theorylacksfemaleperspectivebecauseitisnotobjectivelysoughtatthe
onsetofformulatingideas.

ndonautomaticallyacceptedideasofwhatisstandardandnormal,ratherthanfirstchallengingthe
objectiveenough.
Three different Feminist Theories
FeministTheoryinIRcanbedividedintothreegroups:liberal,criticalandculturaloressentialist.

Liberal Feminism
LiberalFeminismintendstoempowerwomenandgivethemanequalroleinsociety,especiallyin
politicsandatwork.
ItsgoalistoinsurecompleteGenderEqualitybetweenmenandwomenwithoutchangingcompletelythe
waythesocietyworksorgirlsandboyssocialization.

Thistheoryfocusongenderequalityatworkandinpolitics,promotingpoliciestoinsureparityin
Parliamentorinboardsofdirectors.IthasextendedtheconceptofGlassceilingtogenderissues.In
IR,liberalfeministslookatwomenininternationalpoliticsandinternationaleconomics.
Radical Feminism
Followingthemarxistorientedcriticalschool,CriticalFeministswanttochangethesocietyandfocuson
socialization.
Radicalfeminismviewspatriarchyandsexismasthemostelementalfactorinwomensoppression
cuttingacrossallothersfromraceandagetoculture,casteandclass.
Itquestionstheverysystemandideologybehindwomenssubjugation.Thetermoftenreferstothe
womensmovementsemergingfromthecivilrights,peaceandotherliberationmovementsatatimewhen
peopleincreasinglywerequestioningdifferentformsofoppressionandpower.
Radicalfeminists,seekingtounderstandtherootsofwomenssubordination,haveprovidedthemajor
theoreticalunderstandingthathasservedasthebasisfortheinspirationandanalysisguidingwomens
movementsaroundtheworld.
Cultural or Essentialist Feminism
Thistheoryisntreallypopularamongscholarsbecauseitsupposedpartly,contrarytowhatitsnamemightmean,thatwomen
aresuperiorthanmenandthatthewayfemalesaresocializedshouldbeextendedtomales.Womenwouldbenaturallyand
socialylessaggressivethanmen.Asaresult,womenshouldbemoreabletobringingpeacetotheworldandeliminatingviolent
Culturalfeminismemphasizesessentialdifferencesbetweenmenandwomenintermsofbiology,personalityandbehavior.
malecultureandsocialization.
Womenareseentohavedifferentandsuperiorvirtuesthatprovidethefoundationforasharedidentity,solidarityandsisterhood.
Sincebynaturewomenareviewedaskinderandgentlerthanmen,itfollowsthatifwomenwereinpower,theworldwouldbea
betterplace.Inthe1960sand70s,somewomensupportedtheideaofformingseparatewomenonlycultures.
Thank You