Mainstreaming Gender in International Relations: Discourse and Policy
In last week’s reading Cynthia Enloe, in her piece entitled “Gender is not enough”, highlighted that the field of international relations has largely been developed from a masculine perspective. Enloe highlighted a situation in which a colleague who researched girls and young women in war zones used the term “combatants” in his study to characterise girls and young women. The problem with this term is that it implies the only people that need help are those who are directly involved in military combat. In other words, a large aspect of this study highlights how women are overlooked in the process of policy and programme development, at the local and global level.
In this week’s readings, we discuss the idea of Gender Mainstreaming which discusses taking a “Gender perspective in all policies and programs so that, before decisions are taken, an analysis is made of the effects on women and men”(p.189). According to this thesis, discussed in Jacqui True’s article “Mainstreaming Gender in International Institutions”, gender equality cannot be fully realized unless all gendered consequences of policies are considered on a local and global level. The idea of gender mainstreaming invokes the principle of liberal feminism which demands inclusion on representation of women and the perspective of women. The connection between this week and last week’s reading is that they both seem to take on a similar theme. Enloe argues that international relations is taken predominantly from a masculine perspective, Jacqui True explores the consequences behind “mainstreaming” gender into international relations. True also makes mention of various ways that feminist scholars approach mainstreaming.
Claire Duncanson and Catherine Eschle’s piece titled “Gender and the Nuclear Weapons State: A Feminist Critique of the UK Government’s White Paper on Trident”, the two offer an analysis of how the UK governments White paper regarding nuclear warfare seems to ratify patriarchal roots of international security. From a discursive perspective, as True highlights, the dialogue in which the British government described issues of nuclear security legitimized the idea of the masculine protector and the feminine protected. The reason being, the discourse does not fully realize the gendered consequences the policy incorporates .The consequence of this sort of dialogue ratifies the normative role of men- as the ultimate protectors, and the role of women- who, from this perspective are in need of male protection.
The connection between the three articles highlights how policy and discourse, such as the UK government White Paper on trident, has been developed from a masculine ontology. Furthermore, True discusses, although not without critique, how mainstreaming gender in the development of policy and discourse, should ultimately lead to the improvements of the subjects of policy intervention. Duncanson and Eschle drive home the idea, using the example of the UK governments White Paper on Trident, how particular discourse, developed from a masculine perspective, fails to take a thorough gender analysis into account.
The importance of mainstreaming gender in policy development cannot be stressed enough. Every policy and vital piece of discourse in International Relations has a gendered consequence. For instance, taking a gendered perspective on how peace-building would recognize that war effects girls and women in many different ways in which is effects men. Furthermore, taking gendered perspective on an important piece of discourse like the UK governments White Paper on Trident, would take into account how the use of language and discourse has very gender sensitive effects.
However, one must wonder, does taking a gender perspective ratifies a binary in International Relations between men and women? If so, what are the consequences?
Cynthia Enloe. “’Gender’ is Not Enough: The Need for a Feminist Consciousness”
Duncanson, Claire, and Catherine Eschle. “Gender and the Nuclear Weapons State: A Feminist Critique of the UK Government’s White Paper on Trident.” New Political Science 30.4 (2008): 545-563.
Jackie True. “Main Streaming Gender in International Instituions” in “Gender Matter in Global Politics”. Shepherd, Laura J.