Gender theory in International Relations Essay

“Should Women Head Into Combat?” National Journal, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, go.galegroup.com.catalog.stisd.net:2048/ps/i.do?p=GPS&sw=w&u=j031916004&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE|A295443049&asid=8445d2f3fc63af3ae9ac94cfdd3067fd. Accessed Dec. 2017.

“In the Combat Zone” written by Leslie Marmon, is about how the roles of women have been taught for generations. Women are smaller and weaker, and that we are sitting ducks waiting to be victims by our prey. Women are taught to be easy targets by their mothers, aunts, and grandmothers. They were told that women should not kill, or use weapons. In this essay Leslie Marmon, explains that we can put a stop to the crimes done against women by strangers. Females must learn how to take aggressive action individually. In the 20th century woman no longer have to fit in the box that they have been put in. We can defend and protect ourselves.

Genocide has long had gendered effects, but those effects have long gone relatively understudied as with many other issues relating to feminism in academic scholarship. By gendering our understanding of power and violence, genocide must be rethought and even perhaps redefined, as the reality of genocide often finds itself in conflict with the genocidal realities women have faced throughout time. Through gendering our understanding of genocide in this analysis, the feminist viewpoint provides important acknowledgements for the effects of these human rights abuses on both men and women. Moreover, we will better understand how the

The author instills emotion in the audience by using many true cases to create a lasting impression on them about the reasons for “fears of putting women in the trenches” (Collins 2) that could contribute to the lack of respect they are getting for wanting combat roles because of them. She mentions a true scenario case involving “Shoshana Johnson, a cook [who] was shot in both ankles, taken captive and held for 22 days” (Collins 2).

In the essay, “In the Combat Zone,” Leslie Marmon Silko writes for the purpose of explaining the hardships that women go through in their everyday lives, that men do not necessarily have to worry about. Through personal stories about her growing up with her father who taught her how to use guns and hunt, to actual encounters with dangerous men who could’ve potentially harmed her had she not been experienced, Silko provides real life examples of the dangers women face in their everyday lives. Women are at risk whenever they leave the safety of their home, and even may be at risk in their home as well. Being raised to depend on others for protection leaves women vulnerable to attacks that leave them defenseless. This is different than men who are raised in a way that gives them power and essentially puts them above women and eliminates this fear. We see this theme on page 734 when Silko writes, “Men who have been in combat know the feeling of being a predator’s target, but it is difficult to men to admit admit that we women live our entire lives in a combat zone.”

A researcher and writer of women in security roles, published author and lecturer at the University of Sydney. Dr. Megan H Mackenzie, wrote “Let Women Fight,” published in 2012 in Foreign Affairs. Mackenzie argues that despite popular belief in the United States women can indeed serve in combat roles next to men. Mackenzie begins by addressing some issues she has with the proponents citing research and statistics, while also appealing to ethos and logos. The tone that Mackenzie uses as well as the credible sources and appeals to the audience led me to believe the persuasive elements.

Cynthia Enloe’s book titled Nimo’s War, Emma’s War: Making Feminist Sense of the Iraq War allows readers to enter the lives of eight women; four American and four Iraqi, in order to better understand the everyday lives of people, their struggles, and the outcomes of war by using particular stories of women to bring together issues present globally. Enloe wrote this book to analyze war from a feminist perspective. Analyzing war through a feminist lens by way of stories makes understanding the war more accessible for wider audiences (Enloe 2010:xii and 218). The use of stories allows for a better understanding of women in both countries and shows that there is no one group of women, whether that be American or Iraqi, there is no monolithic Muslim women or American women (Enloe 2010:xii). In doing so, Enloe (2010) allows for readers of all backgrounds to critically question the gendered aspects of war including the histories, feelings, struggles, and the ways in which women organize and resist war waging (p. xii). Enloe (2010) in both her purpose for writing this book and in the title, does not focus on one group of women which allows for a more serious and balanced engagement with the women in both countries. Enloe connects stories of women from two countries while at war. When women are taken seriously in all of their diversity, and their ideas and actions are explored, the world will better understand how upholding certain forms of masculinity at particular moments in time

I found this book to be very informative though Shannon’s interviewing tactics were questionable, for example having the women discuss their personal rape experiences in a group setting, rather than one on one, or paying the women to share their stories as she writes, “I scrounge around my bag and pull out US$40, slipping it to Wandolyn with the uneasy feeling I’ve just paid her to relive all that” (Shannon 145). However, from reading A Thousand Sisters by Lisa J. Shannon I have learned that in a sense, it is more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in combat.

Women have always served in the United States Military, since the beginning of the existence of the United States. I will make the argument, that women can and should be allowed to serve in combat roles, that are traditionally open for men only. Combat does not distinguish between the sexes. This is an important issue for everyone. The main reason, why women have never been allowed to be in combat roles, is because the sight of a wounded woman on the battle field makes for heart breaking image. It should not matter what the gender is, as long as they get the job done on the battlefield. The conventional ways of fighting a war, does not exist anymore. We all have a part, women and men. There is only one

Throughout the history of mankind there has always been a debate regarding the equality between men and women. A more specific detail in this argument is the conflict of women should be on the front line of battlefield. This topic is significant congress is currently passing legislation on whether women can serve on the front lines of combat. It is also significant because the army rangers has opened its camp to women for the first time in early 2015. This essay will argue the point that women should not be allowed on the front line of combat but allowed in the military. In order to argue this point this essay will demonstrate how the role of women changed in combat over the past 100 years. It will also show what the differences are between

The book, Women in Combat: A Reference Handbook, display how women have been serving and involved in combat dating back to ancient times. The Author, Rosemarie Skaine, provides references that highlight women achievements and link their participation to the respective conflicts. She articulates the challenges women face from balancing family life to sexual issues. She also compares the role of women in the United States Military to foreign militaries. The book paints an overall sketch of women on the battlefield without a front line and their willingness to confront all odds.

Eleanor Roosevelt and countless scholars have observed that international politics is a man’s world (Tickner, 1992). It is a world inhabited by diplomats, soldiers and international civil servants most of whom are men. An important function of Feminist theory is that it helps to explain women’s subordination that exists in varying degrees in society (Tickner, 1992). Gender is denied as an issue in international politics because it has addressed through as system of anarchy and patriarchy (Steans, 1998). Realists when analyzing global conflict assume that the global system via concepts of security should be understood as ungendered and universal (Batnic, 2001). International relations theory is grounded in realist assumptions that regards the position of women as neutral, however international

Through this written piece of work, I want to examine the ways in which the dominant ideas of gender and war, from a Feminist perspective. I will be contributing an understanding to the role of the Kurdish female fighters in the field of war and politics, that have broken the taboos of gender roles within the community, and the national movement. The concept of gender, war, and conflict has lightened the issue of women in war. The image of war is associated to masculinity, and in many cases women are not welcomes in the field of war, as “she is exposed as a victim of war by drawing the idea of women being helpless (Sjoberg, 2014, p. 10).” Laura Sjoberg; Gender, War, and Conflict, states that “war-making and war-fighting have been traditionally

The textbook identifies four approaches to gender development: biological, interpersonal, cultural, and critical. Define each theory. Then answer the following question: which of the theoretical approaches to gender do you find the most valid? Be sure to include at least two examples from your own experience as well as two scholarly sources to back up your claim.

War, a word that often describes the aftermath of a disagreement tends to often become a topic of conversation amongst Americans today. Since the founding of our fathers we have faced ample amounts of conflict. Justice amongst these circumstances is not easy to reach, sacrifices had been made and will continue to until the conclusion is met. While their loved ones are away, the families of the fighting soldiers face daily obstacles. These sacrifices often become overlooked and taken for granted. Women have always played an important role in the success of family life and the well being of our country under these circumstances; through the years, these tasks have ranged from work on the assembly lines to performing seamstress duties for a soldier’s uniform. Without this unwarranted support, we’d be at a loss during these disheartening times.