IR2501IR2501

Gender and Gender and International Relations International Relations

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Overview of 2 lecturesOverview of 2 lectures

Lecture 1:Lecture 1:

• Some background to feminist scholarship in Some background to feminist scholarship in IRIR

• Discussion of gender: assumptions and Discussion of gender: assumptions and definitionsdefinitions

• Gender as a lens on world politics – V. Spike Gender as a lens on world politics – V. Spike Peterson and Anne Sisson-Runyan ‘Global Peterson and Anne Sisson-Runyan ‘Global Gender Issues’Gender Issues’

LLecture 2: ecture 2: Different ways to study gender in Different ways to study gender in IRIR

• Ann Tickner - How gender biased is the Ann Tickner - How gender biased is the discipline of IR?discipline of IR?

• Cynthia Enloe – Where are the women?Cynthia Enloe – Where are the women?• Carol Cohn – Where is gender in Carol Cohn – Where is gender in

language and thought?language and thought?• Current state of feminist IR/gender and Current state of feminist IR/gender and

IR - and ‘summing up’ pointsIR - and ‘summing up’ points

‘‘History’ of feminism in/and History’ of feminism in/and IRIR

• Feminist scholarship in the discipline of IR Feminist scholarship in the discipline of IR usually dated back to the mid to usually dated back to the mid to late 1980s.late 1980s. (Quite late compared to discipline of Sociology (Quite late compared to discipline of Sociology for example).for example).

• Couple of major conferences marked the Couple of major conferences marked the beginning of the ‘feminist IR project’ – one in beginning of the ‘feminist IR project’ – one in the United States organised by V. Spike the United States organised by V. Spike Peterson and J. Ann Tickner and one in London Peterson and J. Ann Tickner and one in London at the LSE organised by Fred Halliday and at the LSE organised by Fred Halliday and Margot LightMargot Light

Enloe, Tickner – key Enloe, Tickner – key writerswritersAlso: Jean Bethke Also: Jean Bethke

Elshtain ‘Women Elshtain ‘Women and War’ (1987)and War’ (1987)

Also: Grant and Also: Grant and Newland ‘Gender Newland ‘Gender and IR’ (1991) and IR’ (1991)

Why then?Why then?

• Feminist scholarship – or work on gender – Feminist scholarship – or work on gender – entered into Sociology around 1960s - entered into Sociology around 1960s - linked to social changes emergent in linked to social changes emergent in 1960s – civil rights movements, student 1960s – civil rights movements, student protests in Britain, France and the US, protests in Britain, France and the US, women’s movements etcwomen’s movements etc

• But the discipline of IR has been ‘immune’ But the discipline of IR has been ‘immune’ to many of these changes until late 1980s to many of these changes until late 1980s (why?)(why?)

Late 1980sLate 1980s

• Part of ‘post-Cold War’ upheaval in study of Part of ‘post-Cold War’ upheaval in study of International Politics International Politics

• Few (if any) predicted the end of the Cold War or Few (if any) predicted the end of the Cold War or the dismantling of the Soviet Bloc – so traditional the dismantling of the Soviet Bloc – so traditional theories were (perhaps temporarily) - made theories were (perhaps temporarily) - made vulnerable. Opened up space for new theories to vulnerable. Opened up space for new theories to be considered.be considered.

• As such, feminist scholarship in IR is part of the As such, feminist scholarship in IR is part of the ‘post-positivist’ revolution in IR‘post-positivist’ revolution in IR

• But what kinds of problems or issues But what kinds of problems or issues particularlyparticularly inspired or instigated all this work at this point?inspired or instigated all this work at this point?

• INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS FROM GRANT & INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS FROM GRANT & NEWLAND and ENLOE.NEWLAND and ENLOE.

J. Ann Tickner (1992)J. Ann Tickner (1992)

As a scholar and teacher of international As a scholar and teacher of international relations, I have frequently asked myself relations, I have frequently asked myself the following questions: Why are there so the following questions: Why are there so few women in my discipline? If I teach the few women in my discipline? If I teach the field as conventionally defined, why are field as conventionally defined, why are there so few readings by women to assign there so few readings by women to assign my students? Why is the subject matter of my students? Why is the subject matter of my discipline so distant from women’s my discipline so distant from women’s lived experiences? Why have women been lived experiences? Why have women been conspicuous only by their absence in the conspicuous only by their absence in the worlds of diplomacy and military and worlds of diplomacy and military and foreign policy making? (ix)foreign policy making? (ix)

So – the problem with IR is So – the problem with IR is …… • TicknerTickner: why so few women in IR? (And : why so few women in IR? (And

why does this matter?) why does this matter?) • GrantGrant and and NewlandNewland: IR is too narrow – : IR is too narrow –

women are excluded.women are excluded.• EnloeEnloe: real landscape of International : real landscape of International

Politics is not exclusively male. IR not Politics is not exclusively male. IR not giving a giving a FULLFULL picture. picture.

• So it is So it is CLEARLYCLEARLY the exclusion of women the exclusion of women that inspired scholarship on gender in that inspired scholarship on gender in International Relations) – but this leads to International Relations) – but this leads to another problemanother problem

The problemThe problem

Massive assumption gets made which has three parts to Massive assumption gets made which has three parts to itit

1.1. Assumption that feminist or gender scholarship is JUST Assumption that feminist or gender scholarship is JUST about women (go to next slide)about women (go to next slide)

2.2. Linked assumption that this means feminist scholarship Linked assumption that this means feminist scholarship cannotcannot be central to IR as it’s JUST about women – equal be central to IR as it’s JUST about women – equal rights might be ok – but that’s not what IR is about – is it?rights might be ok – but that’s not what IR is about – is it?

3.3. Linked assumption that Gender is JUST about womenLinked assumption that Gender is JUST about womenAll of these assumptions are All of these assumptions are WRONGWRONG

But this means we have to start thinking quite deeply about But this means we have to start thinking quite deeply about what gender is and what gender does – as gender is not what gender is and what gender does – as gender is not just about women or men – but rather about the just about women or men – but rather about the construction of knowledge – epistemology … how we construction of knowledge – epistemology … how we learn to understand the world learn to understand the world

What is gender?What is gender?

• Start to think more deeply about gender - Start to think more deeply about gender - thinking conceptually firstthinking conceptually first

Metaphor: Jackson Pollock and Superman Metaphor: Jackson Pollock and Superman Comic strip (Cynthia Enloe)Comic strip (Cynthia Enloe)

• ConventionallyConventionally (in IR and popularly) we think (in IR and popularly) we think about the world of International Politics more like about the world of International Politics more like a Superman Comic Strip – clear cut values, clear a Superman Comic Strip – clear cut values, clear sense of wrong and right, good and bad – truth sense of wrong and right, good and bad – truth will out – clear lines between good and evil – will out – clear lines between good and evil – goodies and baddies – heroes and villains – (all goodies and baddies – heroes and villains – (all you have to do is think about the war against you have to do is think about the war against terrorism and you can begin to see what Enloe is terrorism and you can begin to see what Enloe is getting at …) getting at …)

Jackson PollockJackson Pollock

• ButBut – the world - and the practices of – the world - and the practices of International Politics are much more International Politics are much more likely to resemble a Jackson Pollock likely to resemble a Jackson Pollock painting (1950s action painter – messy painting (1950s action painter – messy – very difficult to unravel where things – very difficult to unravel where things start or finish – threw paint across the start or finish – threw paint across the canvas – painting over-spilled the canvas – painting over-spilled the canvas – rode bike over the canvas – canvas – rode bike over the canvas – multi-layered, multi-textured …) multi-layered, multi-textured …)

• One of the reasons I use this metaphor is that it One of the reasons I use this metaphor is that it starts to help us begin to see how much more starts to help us begin to see how much more COMPLEXCOMPLEX or or MULTIMULTI--LAYEREDLAYERED the world of the world of international politics are than we are conventionally international politics are than we are conventionally given to understand given to understand

• Looking at how Looking at how gendergender works helps us to begin to works helps us to begin to see that … so scholarship on gender and see that … so scholarship on gender and International Relations is very much part of the International Relations is very much part of the critical theory critical theory enterprise …enterprise …

• And for And for Cynthia EnloeCynthia Enloe – this tells us that there is – this tells us that there is much more much more POWERPOWER at work in international politics at work in international politics than conventional theories would have us believe …than conventional theories would have us believe …

But still - what IS But still - what IS gender?gender? • GenderGender seen as distinct from seen as distinct from biologicalbiological sexsex – if – if

biological sex is related to being a male of female biological sex is related to being a male of female – then gender is generally understood to be the – then gender is generally understood to be the socially constructedsocially constructed roles and practices around roles and practices around masculinitymasculinity and and femininityfemininity. . THIS IS JUST THE STARTING POINT FOR THINKING THIS IS JUST THE STARTING POINT FOR THINKING

ABOUT GENDERABOUT GENDER• So – gender is about So – gender is about masculinitymasculinity and and

femininityfemininity and how ideas about what these and how ideas about what these things structure or influence the ways we can things structure or influence the ways we can behave, the ways we can think – what gets behave, the ways we can think – what gets counted as important and what gets seen as counted as important and what gets seen as trivial or unimportant. trivial or unimportant.

Masculinity and Femininity: 3 Masculinity and Femininity: 3 pointspoints

3 points to make about 3 points to make about masculinitymasculinity and and femininityfemininity..1.1. Socially constructed and varies over time and cultureSocially constructed and varies over time and culture2.2. No universal CONTENT – but No universal CONTENT – but oppositionaloppositional 3.3. That oppositional character is That oppositional character is hierarchicalhierarchical

Dualisms/binariesDualisms/binariesGood/badGood/badUs/themUs/them

White/blackWhite/blackMan/womanMan/woman

Culture/natureCulture/natureReason/emotionReason/emotion

Truth/liesTruth/liesInside/outsideInside/outside

Masculine/feminineMasculine/feminineHeterosexual/homosexualHeterosexual/homosexual

Enlightenment binary Enlightenment binary structurestructure• Feminists argue that this binary structure is one Feminists argue that this binary structure is one

of the reasons that not only women’s lives and of the reasons that not only women’s lives and traditional practices been generally ignored by traditional practices been generally ignored by International Relations scholars – but also International Relations scholars – but also practices and even practices and even regimes of thoughtregimes of thought which which are ASSOCIATED with femininity – have been are ASSOCIATED with femininity – have been side-lined … (Carol Cohn – lecture 2)side-lined … (Carol Cohn – lecture 2)

• Hard part is to try and expose how ideas about Hard part is to try and expose how ideas about femininity are actually embedded in our systems femininity are actually embedded in our systems of thought as well as in practiceof thought as well as in practice

• What do we see – what don’t we see?What do we see – what don’t we see?• Why do some things rise to the surface and other Why do some things rise to the surface and other

don’t?don’t?

Spike Peterson and Anne Sisson Spike Peterson and Anne Sisson Runyan: gender as a lensRunyan: gender as a lens

• They use the idea of gender as a They use the idea of gender as a LENS LENS – and – and lenses act to foreground some things, while lenses act to foreground some things, while putting others into the background.putting others into the background.

• Neo(realist) lenses bring the conflictive behaviour Neo(realist) lenses bring the conflictive behaviour of states to the fore, whereas neo(liberal)lenses of states to the fore, whereas neo(liberal)lenses focus attention on interstate cooperation and focus attention on interstate cooperation and organization. Neo(Marxist) lenses direct our gaze organization. Neo(Marxist) lenses direct our gaze to class inequalities and conflicts within and to class inequalities and conflicts within and across states, whereas postcolonial lenses call across states, whereas postcolonial lenses call attention to racial inequalities, nationalist attention to racial inequalities, nationalist identities and conflicts and imperialist practices identities and conflicts and imperialist practices within and across states (page 21).within and across states (page 21).

What gender is NOT: 2 What gender is NOT: 2 pointspoints

POINT ONEPOINT ONE• Gender is Gender is NOTNOT about about ADDINGADDING anything to anything to

the field or study of international relations the field or study of international relations or world politics. or world politics.

• It is It is NOTNOT about adding women, or about adding women, or feminism or gender or anything like that. feminism or gender or anything like that.

• What feminist scholars in Politics or IR What feminist scholars in Politics or IR primarily do – is expose how the field of primarily do – is expose how the field of politics IR is politics IR is ALREADYALREADY and and ALWAYSALWAYS gendered.gendered.

Showing how gender Showing how gender worksworks• So – if this is ‘the world’ (the globe) – and if you So – if this is ‘the world’ (the globe) – and if you

think feminists come along and add women – think feminists come along and add women – you’d be wrong – gender is all the way through you’d be wrong – gender is all the way through this very sphere… our actions and behaviours are this very sphere… our actions and behaviours are never never OUTSIDEOUTSIDE gender. gender.

• So the idea is to So the idea is to SHOW HOW THIS WORKSSHOW HOW THIS WORKS. . • Think about the Think about the ubiquitousubiquitous and and deeply deeply

ingrained ingrained character of gender – adverts, character of gender – adverts, clothesclothes (male lecturers/Profs in dresses..), (male lecturers/Profs in dresses..), violence ... (Hindley, West, Suicide bombers) – violence ... (Hindley, West, Suicide bombers) –

• The latest furore about the captured Marines – The latest furore about the captured Marines – what captured a great deal of press attention?what captured a great deal of press attention?

Point 2Point 2

– POINT TWOPOINT TWO• Gender is Gender is NOTNOT about women. about women. • Or to be a little more accurate – gender is not Or to be a little more accurate – gender is not

JUSTJUST about women. Many feminists might about women. Many feminists might concentrate on women in some aspect of politics concentrate on women in some aspect of politics (examples – such as women politicians, women (examples – such as women politicians, women soldiers, women suicide bombers, diplomatic soldiers, women suicide bombers, diplomatic wives, women/wives/mothers caring for men wives, women/wives/mothers caring for men returning from wars).returning from wars).

• BUT – in that process what feminists in IR are BUT – in that process what feminists in IR are essentially doing is looking at how gender essentially doing is looking at how gender structures the way the world is run – or how it structures the way the world is run – or how it operates. (operates. (THEORY. EPISTEMOLOGY.THEORY. EPISTEMOLOGY.))

3 writers – next lecture3 writers – next lecture

Ann TicknerAnn Tickner• How gender biased is the discipline of IR?How gender biased is the discipline of IR?• How can we convince the mainstream of the How can we convince the mainstream of the

significance of gender/feminism?significance of gender/feminism?Cynthia EnloeCynthia Enloe

• Where are the women?Where are the women?• What work are masculinity and femininity doing?What work are masculinity and femininity doing?

Carol CohnCarol Cohn• How does gender work in language? How does gender work in language? • What can’t we say and does gender have What can’t we say and does gender have

anything to do with that?anything to do with that?