feminism maam

8/10/2019 Feminism Maam

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Baylis, Smith & Owens:

The Globalization of World Politics 5e

Chapter 16

Gender in World Politics


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Too often the great decisions are originated

and given form in bodies made up wholly of

men, or so completely dominated by them

that whatever of special value women have tooffer is shunted aside without expression.

Eleanor Roosevelt


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Representation of the world, like the world

itself, is the work of men; they describe it from

their own point of view, which they confuse

with absolute truth.


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Introduction

Over the last decade, feminism has emerged

as a key critical perspective within the study

of international relations.

The initial impetus of this critique was tochallenge the fundamental biases of the

discipline and to highlight the ways in which

women were excluded from analyses of the

state, international political economy, andinternational security.


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Feminist Theory

Feminism: a movement dedicated to

womens political, social, economic

equality.

The most important goal for feminist

theory is to explain womens

subordination which exist to varying

degrees in all societies and seek waysto end it.


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Feminist theory: goal is to explain why

women are subordinated

No separation between knowledge and

political practice -> should help improve

womens lives

A simple definition of feminism means the

study of and movement for women not asobjects but as subjects of knowledge


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Introducing Feminist Theory

Types of feminist theory: different

explanations for womens subordination

Liberal

Marxist

Socialist

Post-modern

Postcolonial


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Gender

A set of socially constructedcharacteristics that define masculinityand femininity

A structure that signifies unequal powerrelationships between women and men

A system of social hierarchy in which

masculine characteristics are morevalued than feminine ones


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Why gender important inIR?


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(1) Gender in IR Theory

Gender-sensitive lenses

Build on other theories but incorporategender as category of analysis

Liberal feminists:

Womens equality can be achieved throughremoval of legal obstacles


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Liberal Approach to Equality

Equality of Opportunity Model

Freedom to chose education and career.

Need a level playing fieldeveryone should have

equal access to opportunities. No legal or social barriers to economic

opportunities.

Education, hiring, promotions based on

achievement.


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Liberal feminists

Investigated problems of refugee woman,

income inequalities, human trafficking, rape in

war etc.

Observe how women affects and is affectedby international policy making.


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(2) Gendering Security

i- Challenging the myth of protection.

90% suggest we should be questioningthis story.

Women and children majority of theworlds refugee populations.

In wartime, women are subject to rape

and prostitution.


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Rape is not just an accident of war but often

is systematic military strategy.

Estimated 20,000 to 35,000 women were

raped during the war in Bosnia Herzegovina-ethnic cleansing-strategy forced pregnancies.


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ii- GENDERING WAR

Masculine image of the soldier challenged

by increasing numbers of women in themilitary worldwide

Role of militarized masculinity in policymaking


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iii- FEMINIST DEFINITIONS OF SECURITY

Feminist theory broadens security

conceptions beyond the masculine state.

define security as: the diminution of all formsof violence, including physical, economic and

ecological

They suggest security should be from thebottom up instead from the top down.


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(3) Gender in the

International Political Economy

Gendered division of labour

disadvantages women

Dates back to 17th century

Public-private division

Women are home-based, or work in

garment, service or agricultural fields

Double burden of household labour


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Why is it the feministmovement is so fragmented

in International Relations


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1) Issues of Secularism

- Feminist movement is often misunderstood

as a breach of Eastern culture and religion ofIslam because the origin of the so-called

Western countries are considered too

secular.

- However, the feminist movement still fightingin the Middle Eastern countries such as Iran

and Egypt, where discrimination against

women is the norm of society. There are

many who think that feminism is an elitist

movement, comprising educated members of

the upper class western.


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(2) Problems with Feminist Ethics

Some philosophers argue that the ethic of

care is based on traditional women's values

in a quest for new virtues. Beings other than women may not agree

because humans often only understand what

they can relate to. Thus ethics of care could

not serve to resolve conflicts involving people

who do not relate to the orientation of caring.


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Gender free morality may be impossible,

according to Nel Noddings.

Traditional philosophers believed thatwomen were inferior to men and female

goddesses were involved in silence,

obedience and service.

These female roles can be shaped into anethic of care according to many women

philosophers. In so doing ethics becomes

gender based and the ethic of care would not

be applicable to those who are not of the

female gender.


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Policy and Practice

NGOs and social movements have

facilitated gender equality

UN and Gender Development Index

Theory informed by belief in

emancipatory effect of knowledge

Gender mainstreaming: how will a

policy impact gender equality?


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The United Nation (UN) held its first official

conference on women in Mexico City in 1975-

launched the UN Decade for Women (1976-

85). Put womens issues on its agenda.

Development Alternatives with Women for a

New Era (DAWN)- engaged with political,

analyses of the impact of global economic

policy on Southern countries.


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About Child/ Forced Marriages


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Case Study

Microcredit: empowering women through

investment


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Case Study

The self-employed womens movement

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