Feminism and International Relations

This was written by Maggie, one of our summer interns. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.

Feminism is a hot topic in our society, and I, myself, am a proud feminist, someone who stands up and speaks out for equality of all genders. Many feminists are activists, politicians, teachers, and scholars. Feminist theory adds to the intellectual and political conversation, and theories involving feminism are important to international relations. Feminist ideas can encourage awareness and adequate decision making. Because many countries, cultures, and governments view women differently or have different definitions of feminism, international relations need to use feminist theories to make policy. Feminist international relations involves not only women’s roles in politics but also the role of masculinity. This theory includes men and women and their participation and problems in the efforts of international relations, such as diplomacy, economics, war, and security, and how gender plays a part in these. Specifically, in Carol Cohn’s article entitled, “Sex and Death in the Rational World of Defense Intellectuals Signs,” written in 1988, she writes that a culture focusing on masculinity, especially in defense, impacts international relations and human rights. 

Around the 1980s, feminist international relations started to make its impact. During this time, the Cold War was ending, and the role of gender had been continuing to change. The theories also included input on postcolonialism, poststructuralism, and postmodernism. Communities centered on international policies wanted to dedicate time and thought on the potential for female opportunities. Many theories used and policies made lacked female decision making and even consideration of how it may impact women. Women were being left out of the conversation and ultimately global affairs. For example, many forget that women are vital to the military beyond fighting; they serve as nurses, cooks, and porters, just to name a few roles. Men are seen fighting in wars, whereas women are accounted for being in grief and against the war and nuclear weapons, which is concerning for the soldiers and money makers of war. Women are told to take care of the family and house and can help in the education and health sectors, when men can lead the economy, military, security, and international relations. Because women are forgotten, discussions regarding military relations exclude them, yet women have been active members of the military ever since the mid-nineteenth century. Females are often subjected to sexual violence, however, in their military experience. Writers have acknowledged that historically and politically men have been socialized to a certain view. In Greek culture, there is the warrior model; the idea of the patriarch is center to some religions; and men have been seen as the decider and rationalist of governments. Many feminist scholars urged that governoring bodies start incorporating women leaders in the negotiations of laws, treaties, ceasefires, peace agreements, and constitutions. Women have made efforts to improve relations and foster peace, yet the military is too powerful to validate them and their potentially saving and necessary actions. There needs to be fair representation and equitable policy-making. 

In addition, feminist research researches through quantitative foreign policy and comparative case studies. Quantitative foreign policy can provide the data and information about gender inequality in international relations. Comparative case studies analyze policies affecting women disportionately. Theories regarding gender studies the relationship between men and women and policies and nations. Part of this is differentiating sex, birth, gender, and social construct. There are several obvious disparities between men and women, and feminist theorists and scholars provide many examples and evidence of this, such as equally educated men and women are paid differently, impacting employment and the gender gap and more broadly, politics and government. Another inequality is the portrayal of women in the media or lack thereof, characterizing women as bossy or unable to win political positions as well as focusing on their outward appearance, all of which impacts their potential, future, and voting. These disparities lead to women left out of politics and not being decisive in “women’s issues.” However, feminist organizations are working toward reversing stereotypes and assumptions for better understanding of the need for women in international relations. Also, they are fighting gender-based violence because up to seven out of ten women will experience violence in their lives and around 600 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not even a criminal act. The lack of awareness and preventable actions for this violence is problematic and dangerous, and this violence happens to anyone anywhere, in the military, at workplaces, on the streets, etc. Women are also victims to food, housing, and education inequalities.

Also, women are severely underrepresented in politics, nationally and internationally. Women are over half of the population in the United States but not even close enough to represent women in Congress. In the world, women made up only a little over 20% of national parliaments. Many countries even had to put quotas in their government bodies to represent women fairly. Men have historically been in charge of governments, such as 45 male United States presidents, so women are overlooked for their participation and contributions and then unable to have power in these institutions. The idea of masculinity centers around power, independence, and rational thinking, whereas femininity has been defined by society as domestic, fragile, and irrational. Thus, international relations fail to be equal for women because the ideas of gender are inaccurate yet ingrained in society. In reality, feminist theory would improve international relations. Peacekeeping is hard, but women are leading its path. 

In October of 2000, the UN Security Council dedicated an entire session to Women, Peace, and Security, leading them to adopt Resolution 1325, which called for a more accurate gender perspective in peace agreements and decision-making while also ensuring females are protected in war. Resolution 1325 urged organizations to prioritize the needs of girls and women, peace initiatives, and equal and human rights in government systems. In addition, the United Nations completed a study in 2015 finding that the role of gender in peacekeeping is under-resourced, mitigating marginalization, and women can still experience violence in peace processes. Studies and international efforts will help to gain awareness, information, and tools to help women be listened to, represented, protected, and finally equal. They are long overdue a seat at the international relations table; they should have been there at its inception.