Feminism in International

Relations
 Feminism
Feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the
sexes.

Feminism is a broad term given to works of those scholars who have sought to
bring gender concerns into the academic study of international politics. In terms of
international relations (IR) theory it is important to understand that feminism is
derived from the school of thought known as reflectionism.
The Feminist turn in IR
Since the end of the Cold War and the increased interdependence resulting from the
globalization process, the field of international relations has faced major challenges to its core
theoretical structure. It no longer revolves solely around the realist issues of war and security,
but rather, international relations has broadened to include traditionally liberal concerns, such as
the international political economy, socioeconomic development, human rights, non-state actors,
and civil society. Apart from the two main theories of realism and liberalism, the feminist theory
brings new perspectives to the international relations table. This paper will consider the feminist
theory in international relations, and what can be learned from this perspective.
 Main ideas
Defining two key terms -- gender and patriarchy
Gender is not a synonym for the term sex, or the biological difference between
men and women, but instead refers to the complex social construction of mens
and womens identities...[and] behaviors...in relation to each other.
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.
As Diana Thorburn notes, there can never be a truly singular voice of feminist foreign policy s
IR will remain a prime example of patriarchy, in both its practice and accomplishments
 Standpoint theory
the gendered construction of knowledge which helps to understand traditional topics in intern

alerting us to the idea that gender may be structuring how we think in the international contex

purpose and definition of theory is in itself male-centered, because it is appraisingly

normative rather than conjectural and analytic.

In this case, theory lacks female perspective because it is not objectively sought at the
onset of formulating ideas.

constructed around on automatically-accepted ideas of what is standard and normal, rather tha
Three different Feminist Theories
Feminist Theory in IR can be divided into three groups: liberal, critical and cultural or essentialist.

Liberal Feminism
Liberal Feminism intends to empower women and give them an equal role in society, especially in
politics and at work.

Its goal is to insure complete Gender Equality between men and women without changing completely the
way the society works or girls and boys socialization.

This theory focus on gender equality at work and in politics, promoting policies to insure parity in
Parliament or in boards of directors. It has extended the concept of Glass ceiling to gender issues. In
IR, liberal feminists look at women in international politics and international economics.
Radical Feminism
Following the marxist-oriented critical school, Critical Feminists want to change the society and focus on
socialization.
Radical feminism views patriarchy and sexism as the most elemental factor in womens oppression
cutting across all others from race and age to culture, caste and class.
It questions the very system and ideology behind womens subjugation. The term often refers to the
womens movements emerging from the civil rights, peace and other liberation movements at a time when
people increasingly were questioning different forms of oppression and power.
Radical feminists, seeking to understand the roots of womens subordination, have provided the major
theoretical understanding that has served as the basis for the inspiration and analysis guiding womens
movements around the world.
Cultural or Essentialist Feminism
This theory isnt really popular among scholars because it supposed partly, contrary to what its name might mean, that women
are superior than men and that the way females are socialized should be extended to males. Women would be naturally and
socialy less aggressive than men. As a result, women should be more able to bringing peace to the world and eliminating violent
Cultural feminism emphasizes essential differences between men and women in terms of biology, personality and behavior.
male culture and socialization.
Women are seen to have different and superior virtues that provide the foundation for a shared identity, solidarity and sisterhood.
Since by nature women are viewed as kinder and gentler than men, it follows that if women were in power, the world would be a
better place. In the 1960s and 70s, some women supported the idea of forming separate women-only cultures.
Thank You