Feminism in international relations

Welton O’Neal III

March 23, 2015

When analyzing international relations issues, it is often analyzed through a variety of theories with the main viewpoints being realism and liberalism. Both theories agree that within the international arena, only anarchy exists. However, realism emphasizes that nation-states interact with each other through their own self interest and intent to maintain their sovereignty and obtain more power. In regards to liberalism, it views nation-states interacting with each other in order to obtain peace. This can be achieved by nation-states being members of the United Nations. When it comes to feminism, it views these two theories as being dominated by the male perspective.

          Feminist theory uses gender and patriarchy to describe the field of international relations.  Overall, feminist theory says that most actors in international relations, such as diplomats and policymakers, have been, and still are males who come from patriarchal social and political backgrounds.[1] Therefore, discussions within international relations remain largely limited by those who lack consideration of women’s roles in world politics. If international relations continues to exclude women from its discipline and practice, then it will remain as an example of patriarchy. [2]

          In criticizing the most predominant international relations theory which is realism, feminists argue that realists over-value the role of the state in defining international relations, without questioning how the nation-state is politically and socially structured. Feminist theory would consider how the nation-state includes the views of its individual citizens, and how the nation-states domestic views translate into foreign policies.[3] Additionally, feminism views realism as the antithesis to achieving gender equality in discussion and practice. Nation-states are the actors and the individual is of little importance. When the individual is de-emphasized, there is even less acknowledgement of a female individual, which effectively excludes feminist discussion.[4]

          Feminists also challenge the other international theory, liberalism. The critique of it is that international institutions provide for ways in which women can be more politically and socially acknowledged and empowered. Since the leaders and the processes of formal international organizations come from patriarchal systems, their work can keep women at a disadvantage.[5] In criticizing the main international relations theoretical viewpoints, feminism has developed its own theories to explain international relations. This consists of feminist empiricism and feminist standpoint.

          In defining feminist empiricism, it observes that states and the interstate system have been fundamentally gendered structures of domination and interaction. Feminist  empiricism asks 'whether it is accurate to focus on states and worldwide capitalist processes and not also examine the social attitudes and structures which impart a gender to international relations'.[6]

          Regarding feminist standpoint theory, it argues that women's experiences at the margins of political life have given them perspectives on social issues that provide valid insights into world politics. Additionally, for this form of feminist theory it provides a critique of theories constructed by men who put themselves in the position of policy-makers.[7] Instead, feminists critically examine international relations from the standpoint of people who have been excluded from power.The feminist standpoint conception doesn’t imply that feminist perspectives are superior to traditional views. Rather, they contain valid insights into the complex realities of world politics.[8]

          It is important that when discussing issues and trying to resolve them within the international arena, there is always a feminist perspective. Women are just as likely to be affected by the various economic and social issues that occur and more likely than not, are not given a voice in resolving these issues due to political and social reasons. Women within this world play just an important role in society than men and in some cases, are the only family provider. For all countries to continue or maintain their political and economic development, women should be included in the development process. No country can truly develop, despite their political and economic system, unless women are treated equally and posses the same amount of political and economic power as men do.  

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[1] Ruiz, Tricia. "Feminist Theory and International Relations: The Feminist Challenge to Realism and Liberalism."

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Ruiz, Tricia. "Feminist Theory and International Relations: The Feminist Challenge to Realism and Liberalism."

[5] Ibid

[6] Keohane, Robert. "International Relations Theory: Contributions of a Feminist Standpoint." 1989, 9.

[7] Ibid

[8] Ibid

Women’s Rights in the Arab World

By Welton O’Neal III

When we think of women’s rights, we often think of women in the Western world trying to obtain equal rights and opportunities such as equal salaries, political representation, etc. We also think of how other cultures and regions outside of the Western world can adopt this ideology to further advance the rights and treatment of women within their society. Whether or not women’s rights is rooted in Western ideology is debatable. But women do have rights that exist in other regions of the world outside of the West, which was developed domestically or it came about via Western import. One region of the world where women right’s exist but is also under heavy scrutiny within the international arena is the Arab.

 What first must be understood is the meaning of women’s rights. Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls of many societies worldwide. In some places, these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behavior, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed.[1] With this understanding, the ideology can be better understood and how it exists in the Arab world. However, the existence of women’s rights is not cohesive in the Arab world and just like the rest of the world, it varies from country to country.

          Within the Arab world, women in eight of the countries experience sexual violence, harassment, and trafficking. Sexual violence such as rape is not recognized as a crime and the victim in countries such as Saudi Arabia, could face charges of adultery.[2] Often times they face forms of gender discrimination in both the workplace and in public in countries such as in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. Most of these countries don’t allow political participation with the only exception being Saudi Arabia whom allowed women to vote in municipal elections this year, 2015.[3] There are very little efforts to implement policies that advance gender equality prevent the occurrence of sexual violence, harassment, and trafficking. Thus in cases like these, feminism hasn’t been adopted entirely and therefore hasn’t progressed women’s rights in these countries.[4]

          However, there are countries where women’s rights has thrived and has progressed the country towards equal rights for women. In countries such as Tunisia, women have abortion rights and can pass citizenship onto to their husbands as well as having 61 women being elected to the 217-member Constituent Assembly since 2011.[5] In other countries such as Libya allows women to have greater political representation with 33 women were elected to the 200-member General National Congress in 2012. Within Djibouti, the country has implemented various laws that discriminate against women long with enacting a 2009 law that improves the living conditions of low-income women. With the U.A.E women have access to education and health services along with having 4 women sit on the 22-member cabinet of the Federal National Council.[6]

            Knowing this, bit of information, the next question is how can women’s rights progress in countries that do and don’t acknowledge them in the Arab world? Aside from acknowledging that there are women’s rights and human rights movements and individuals that exist to further progress policies that favor women in this region, it is more so important to not generalize the region. It is true that there are countries in the region that lack women’s rights laws but it is also true that there are countries that do acknowledge them. By generalizing that all countries in a region have the same exact policies and viewpoints on an issue only sets the movement of progress backwards rather than moving it towards equality. Thus it is important that every country should be analyzed on a case by case basis and by doing, can the rest of the world understand not only the policies in that country but also in that region.

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[1] Hosken, Fran P., 'Towards a Definition of Women's Rights' in Human Rights Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 2. (May, 1981), pp. 1–10.)

[2] Kehoe, Karrie. "Factbox: Women's Rights in the Arab World." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 11 Nov. 2013. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

[5] Ibid

[6] Ibid