Feminism theory in international relation helps us understand how global politics looks different when we include women’s experiences. Traditional IR focused only on states, power, and military conflict. But feminist scholars show that security, diplomacy, and the global economy also affect women in unique ways. This article explains the meaning of the feminist approach, its major thinkers, types of theories, and real examples from around the world. It will help you clearly understand why feminism has become an important part of International Relations today.
The Feminist Approach to International Relations studies how gender shapes global politics. Traditional IR theories like realism and liberalism focus on state power, national interest, and security. They ignore women’s roles and daily experiences. Feminist scholars argue that international relations are dominated by male ideas. They say knowledge in IR is not neutral. It is shaped by culture, history, and society. Cynthia Enloe and J Ann Tickner show how women contribute in areas such as diplomacy, war, and peace but remain invisible. The feminist approach highlights gender inequality in institutions, decision-making, and the global economy. It also focuses on individual security and human rights. This approach demands more equal and fair representation of women in world politics.
Historical Context and Emergence
The Feminist Approach to International Relations started rising strongly in the 1980s. It was the time of the Second Wave of Feminism. Women demanded equal rights in the economy, workplace, and family. Feminist scholars argued that international relations should not be studied only from the viewpoint of powerful states and men.
During the Cold War, traditional theories like Realism and Liberalism focused only on state security and national interest. They ignored issues such as violence against women, human rights, and economic inequality. Feminism said that these are also global political issues.
Feminists believe that knowledge in IR is shaped by culture, history, and context. So we must ask how gender roles affect world politics. This idea opened a new approach to comparative studies, peace studies, and foreign policy.
In the 1990s, the Third Wave of Feminism expanded these ideas. It included different women’s experiences based on race, class, and region. This made the feminist approach more inclusive and global.
Key Feminist Scholars in IR
Cynthia Enloe
She wrote “Bananas, Beaches and Bases” in 1989. She showed how women working in military bases, tourism, and factories are part of global politics.
J. Ann Tickner
Her book “Gender in International Relations” (1992) questioned traditional security ideas. She focuses on human security and women’s participation in decision-making.
Jean Bethke Elshtain
In her book “Women and War” (1987), she explained how war creates gender roles. Men are seen as protectors. Women are seen as victims. She challenged this thinking.
| Thinker Name | Book & Year | Main Opinion / Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Cynthia Enloe | Bananas, Beaches and Bases (1989) | Showed how women in tourism, military bases, and factories are deeply connected to global politics. Highlighted the gendered nature of international relations. |
| J. Ann Tickner | Gender in International Relations (1992) | Criticized traditional security theories. Focused on human security and the need for women’s participation in global decision-making. |
| Jean Bethke Elshtain | Women and War (1987) | Explained how war creates fixed gender roles. Men are seen as protectors and women as victims. Challenged these stereotypes. |
Feminist Perspectives in International Relations
The feminist approach to international relations gives different ways to study how gender shapes global politics. These perspectives say that international relations are still influenced by male power. They highlight gender inequality in diplomacy, the military, the economy, and global institutions. Each perspective gives a unique way to understand world politics from women’s experiences.
1) Liberal Feminism in IR
Liberal feminist scholars focus on women’s participation in world politics. They study:
- Why are fewer women working in diplomacy and national security
- Gender gap in global leadership and decision-making
- How war affects women more than men
- Human rights issues like domestic violence and refugee problems
Liberal feminism supports equal rights and more women in political power, such as ministers, diplomats, and peace negotiators.
2) Constructivist Feminism in IR
Constructivist feminism explains that gender is socially created through ideas, culture, and behaviour. They argue:
- Gender roles are learned from society
- These roles shape international politics
- Global politics also shapes ideas about gender
Thinkers like Elisabeth Prügl and Charlotte Hooper show how masculinity is linked with power, war, and security in IR.
3) Feminist Critical Perspective
This perspective has roots in Gramscian Marxism. It focuses on:
- How powerful groups control ideas in society
- Cultural and economic systems that keep women unequal
Sandra Whitworth says that the world economy and institutions benefit men more than women.
4) Feminist Post-Structuralist Perspective
Post-structuralist feminists study how language creates power. They say:
- Men are seen as powerful and knowledgeable
- Women are viewed as weak and emotional
- These ideas are repeated through global politics and the media
Important writers include Hélène Cixous, Luce Irigaray, and Julia Kristeva.
5) Postcolonial Feminism in IR
Postcolonial feminists criticize Western feminist ideas. They believe:
- Women in Asia, Africa, and the Global South have different struggles
- Culture, race, and colonial history shape their problems
- Western views cannot explain every woman’s experience
Chandra Mohanty says that gender inequality must be understood in the local cultural context.
6) Eco-Feminism
Eco-feminism studies the link between women and nature.
- Both are exploited by patriarchy and capitalism
- Environmental destruction hurts women more in rural areas
Françoise d’Eaubonne first used the term eco-feminism. Vandana Shiva supports women-led environmental movements in India and the world.
Themes of Feminism in International Relations
International Relations and Women
Feminist scholars in international relations question why women remain absent in decision-making spaces. They ask why international politics still reflects a strict gender division of labour, where men dominate the public sphere of diplomacy, foreign policy, and security, while women are pushed into the private sphere, such as family and unpaid care.
Cynthia Enloe’s famous book Bananas, Beaches, and Bases shows how women’s work in global politics is ignored. She proved that the international is personal, and the personal is also international. Feminists argue that patriarchy shapes global leadership and excludes women from top political roles.
Feminist Perspectives on Power in IR
According to feminist theory in international relations, power is defined in a masculine way. Strength, domination, aggression, and control are seen as powerful traits. Qualities like cooperation, empathy, and care, which are associated with women, are seen as weak.
This gender bias in global power structures pushes women into secondary positions. Feminists challenge this traditional understanding of power and argue that real power also comes from inclusion, care, and equality.
Feminism on the State
Feminists believe that the state is designed and operated through a patriarchal structure. Men hold influential roles in government and foreign policy, while women are treated as dependents who need protection.
This masculine nature of state power shapes laws, military priorities, and foreign affairs. Women’s voices remain underrepresented in policies that affect global governance.
Feminism on Peace and Security
Traditional IR theories like Realism and Liberalism prioritize the security of the state. Feminist scholars argue that this leads to ignoring the security of individuals, especially women.
They promote the idea of human security. This means that real peace can only exist when women feel safe within their families, workplaces, and societies. Feminists also demand women’s participation in peace-building, conflict resolution, and negotiations.
Feminist Views on War and Conflict
War affects women differently. Feminists highlight how women’s bodies are often used as objects of control during conflicts. Sexual violence becomes a weapon of war.
Scholar Jan Jindy Pettman pointed to the Bosnian War, where mass rape was used for ethnic cleansing. Women and children face the biggest security threats in war, yet their voices are the least heard in peace talks and defense politics.
Critique of Realism
Feminist scholars strongly criticize Realism in international relations. They argue that Realism supports a patriarchal worldview. According to feminist scholar Rosemary E. Grant, realist theory depends on masculine ideas like power, domination, national security, and self-help. These ideas reflect a world where men dominate global politics.
Realists treat the state as the main actor in international relations. Feminists say this ignores people, especially women. Traditional state-centric politics highlight military strength and competition, but do not care about the everyday problems of women, such as safety, equality, and human rights. So Realism privileges men and silences women’s experiences in global politics.
For deeper insight, read- Morgenthau’s Six Principles of Realism
Gender Disparity in the Global Economy
Feminist theory in international relations also highlights the global economic gender gap. Women are often placed at the lowest level of economic power. Even when women work as much as men, they are paid less. This happens across different countries, cultures, and identities.
Women also face limited access to property, education, technology, financial resources, and leadership roles. Feminists call this the gendered division of labour in the global economy. Studies show that women earn only two-thirds of what men earn for similar work. This inequality proves that the economy also operates under patriarchal structures.
Causes for the Rise of Feminist Theory in International Relations
The rise of feminist theory in International Relations (IR) began strongly in the 1980s. It was a response to the failure of traditional theories to explain gender issues in global politics. Feminist scholars argued that mainstream IR was based on masculine viewpoints and ignored women’s roles, voices, and experiences. The end of the Cold War and the rise of post-positivist ideas created space for feminist perspectives to enter the discipline.
The Third Debate and Post-Positivist Critique
The Third Debate in IR questioned the idea that international relations are neutral or purely objective. Many scholars argued that knowledge is influenced by power and culture. Feminist thinkers strongly supported this shift. They said that Realism and Liberalism are based mainly on men’s experiences. Women’s voices, roles, and struggles were missing. Feminists showed that what we call “truth” in IR is not neutral. It often reflects gender bias. This helped feminist theory become more accepted in the academic world.
The End of the Cold War and Changing Global Focus
During the Cold War, IR focused mainly on power and military security. States and their survival were the top priority. But after the Cold War, the global agenda changed. Human rights, the global economy, the environment, and non-state actors became more important. Feminist scholars used this shift to raise new questions. They highlighted women’s safety, women’s labour, and the unique problems women face during war. They said security should protect people, not only states. This expanded the idea of security from state security to human security.
The Masculine Nature of Mainstream IR
Feminists argue that traditional IR theories ignore gender. Realism and liberalism are built on masculine ideas like aggression, domination, and power competition. Their language treats war like a normal and technical activity. It removes human emotions and suffering from global politics. This masculine worldview hides gender inequality. It also keeps women away from leadership and decision-making roles in international affairs.
Challenging the State-Centric Approach
Traditional IR separates public and private life. The public space of politics is controlled by men. Women’s work at home and in communities is seen as unimportant. Feminist scholars like Cynthia Enloe challenged this idea. They showed that women’s labour supports global politics. Diplomatic wives, factory workers, and women working near military bases play a hidden but important role. Feminism connected daily life with world politics. It proved that the local is also international.
Influence of International Women’s Movements
Global women’s movements created strong support for feminist perspectives in IR. UN conferences and international activism pushed gender equality into global policy discussions. Later, initiatives like the Women, Peace, and Security agenda helped show why women must be included in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and global governance.
Feminist Approach to IR:- Real Case Examples
1️⃣ United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000)
This is a landmark case in feminist international relations. UNSCR 1325 demands that women must be included in:
- Peace negotiations
- Conflict resolution
- Peacekeeping missions
- Post-war reconstruction
It recognizes that war affects women differently and that peace is stronger when women take part in decision-making. Many countries now create National Action Plans to increase women’s role in peace and security. This case shows how feminist ideas changed global policy.
2️⃣ Women’s Role in the Liberia Peace Process (2003)
During the civil war in Liberia, women played a powerful role in ending the conflict. A group called Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, led by Leymah Gbowee, protested for:
- Ending the civil war
- Peace negotiations
- Women’s participation in talks
Their movement forced the government and rebels to come to the negotiation table. It eventually helped bring peace to Liberia, and Leymah Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. This example proves that women’s participation leads to more successful peace outcomes.
Gendered Division of Labour: Real Global Examples
- Bangladesh garment industry:- 80% of workers are women, but earn lower wages and face unsafe conditions.
- Migrant domestic workers in Gulf countries:- millions of women contribute to households but lack labour rights and legal protection.
- Care economy worldwide:- women perform most unpaid care work, worth trillions to global GDP, but invisible in IR.
Conclusion
Feminist theory in International Relations brings a fresh and important perspective to global politics. It reminds us that power, security, and the global economy are not gender-neutral. Women’s experiences, labour, and voices matter and must be included in international decision-making. Feminist scholars challenge the traditional male-dominated view of IR and show how global politics affects men and women differently. By focusing on human security, everyday life, and equality, feminist IR makes the subject more complete and inclusive. It continues to grow by questioning inequalities and promoting gender justice in world politics.