Feminism

Essay # 60334

International Relations
Political Science > Political Theory
Women Studies > Feminism

Feminism

This paper discusses the political elements of the theory of feminism, which is also viewed as a social theory.

2,210 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that feminism is a much lesser studied theory than liberalism or realism in the field of international relations; nonetheless, it deserves attention because women have had an impact on the foundation of international relations. The author points out that feminism, along with other gender theories, are based on three assumptions: 1) Women should be fully incorporated into the field of international relations to ensure an equal voice for everyone, 2) there should be a distinct and noticeable re-focusing of international relations and 3) it assumes that post-positivist methodology should be used in order to deconstruct gender issues at the international level. This paper explains that radical feminism is opposed to integrating existing feminism into any frameworks because it is trying to create a distinctly feminine analysis, which isn't subservient to a male agenda the way other theories have been in the past: They criticize both liberal and critical theories of feminism.

From the Paper:

"The next category of feminism that we are going to take a look at is Marxist or critical feminist theory. This theory largely suggests that the problem in the world is capitalism, which has resulted in making women work as a labor of love, for no economic reward, in a sense rendering them invisible. This theory searches for the answer to why women and men have appeared in international relations, instead of a focus on how, like so many other subcategories of feminism. To look at it from a different perspective, critical theory asks us questions like: "What ideas about the appropriate relationship between women and men, feminine and masculine, inform the practices of particular actors and institutions? And what material conditions and social forces contribute to the reproduction of those practices? Finally, are attempts to alter those understandings and practices facilitated or hindered by prevailing material conditions?""