1. Feminism in IR Theory Introducing the Paradigms 4: Feminism
Prepared for the Junior IR for EFL class at NENU, Fall 2015

2. Sex Vs. Gender
For background, we usually consider “sex” to be a biological “brute fact” based on anatomy (body parts).
Gender, by contrast, is constructed by society.
What traits do we associate with masculinity?
What traits do we associate with femininity?

3. Assumptions of Feminist IR
Patriarchy (rule by males) best describes the international status quo (current state of affairs).
Study of IR which excludes gender misses important power relationships. Gender fundamentally shapes how IR is studied and theorized.
Women should be treated as agents of IR, not its objects, and certainly not its victims.
Non-traditional areas of inquiry affect IR, such as the home, the factory, tourism, and others.
Rather than states, IR should consider human security at the individual level of analysis.
Once we see the predominantly male national leaders as men, we will have gained insight into IR.

4. How & Why Has IR Ignored Women?
In “dangerous times” like these, men are traditionally viewed as the best protectors, while women are “lumped with” children as potential victims in need of protection. (Enloe)
In coverage of international crises, the news will show images of women crying but often only interviews men about substantial problems and what happened.
In 2005, a list of the most 25 influential IR scholars contained ZERO women.

5. Difference Feminism
Men & women are biologically different, and these essential differences are important.
Very critical of Realism: Does “state security competition under anarchy” sound male or female to you?
If women ruled the world, it would be more peaceful
Women may be naturally more skilled at conflict resolution & group decision-making because they are more “nurturing”
Can you imagine or think of a female national leader leading her state into war?!
HR > Sovereignty
Connectedness > Autonomy

6. Liberal Feminism
The differences between men and women are constructed and small or trivial
The real problem is women don't have enough opportunities to lead or serve in the military.
We need to find and study women acting outside traditional gender roles
Gender exclusion wastes talent!
Women have both led nations at war and served
in combat zones.
Women suicide bombers also rising

7. So, Will China Ever Have a Female President?

8. Post-Modern Feminism
The differences between men and women are constructed (“arbitrary & flexible”) but important.
Look for symbolic constructions of gender in weaponry, such as guns, tanks, bombs, fighter jets, etc.
The word “power” has a synonym of “potency,” used to describe weapons and which also means “male virility”

9. Feminism as Individual Empowerment
“One closes most books on 'international security' or 'IPE' with a sigh. They purport to explain how it works, but they offer knowledge that makes one feel as though it is more rewarding to concentrate on problems closer to home.”
Enloe, pg
Feminism connects choices in daily life to the international and makes everyone an agent in constructing the world.
We should pay more attention to (and join or support) transnational activist groups