Why Countries Should Adopt Sweden 's Feminist Foreign Policy Essay

Canada is generally perceived as a country of freedom and equity in all aspects around the world. But in fact, gender equality has not yet been reached in our society. According to statistics, Canada was only ranked 35th on World Economic Forum gender gap list (“Global Gender Gap List Puts Canada at 35th”). Throughout history, activists have variously prioritized identities rooted in class, race, sexuality, age, gender and ability, but changes will need to continue in our current society and in the future. The women’s movement was ultimately one of the most significant event in Canadian history, as it challenged the patriarchal society and set the basis of gender equality, which has become an important element of Canadian identity today.

In the world today, women have a say in what they want to do and things that they desire to do. Back in the day, before the 1800’s, women had to be submissive to their male counterparts and do according to what was required of them. In the end, this led to the demeaning of the woman and the concept that women were inferior to men. Even though this concept and perception changed, there have been some countries and regions of the world that have not yet recognized the equality that women deserve. Such areas do not allow women to vote, attend school, have a say in the community, and the women are at the mercy of their husbands, fathers or male superiors (Hartmann, Susan M).

Gender discrimination and violence against women were not part of the Human Rights Agenda until the 1990s when feminists began to push for this change (p84/book). One of the slogans of their campaign was that “Women’s Rights

“Too many women, in too many countries speak the same language, of silence.” Hillary Clinton (Editors, 2015). Citizens from around the world are facing many issues, whether they were economical or political. But the female citizens have a major issue encountering them, which is feminism. Feminism is “the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” (Oxford 2015). It requires a powerful person with great ambitions to make changes and lead the right way. It needs someone who is willing to sacrifice everything to achieve greatness and leave a history behind them. A person with these qualities is considered a hero, an idol, someone we can look up to. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are

Ensuring that women and girls can enjoy their fundamental human rights is both a duty within the framework of our international commitments and a prerequisite for Sweden’s broader foreign policy goals on development, democracy, peace and security”(Golosky,2013). In the intervening 20 years, few of the federal government’s recommendations have been implemented, however, in the meantime their communities still continue to face gaps in education, child welfare, housing and

The idea that gender inequality is still something that is a big issue in the modern era is shocking. Many women and men work at the same jobs and even do many things the same but women and men are not the same not only in individual’s eyes but countries as well. Many believe that changing the way counties think about genders will force or make a movement for the new ideas of gender inequality to be scratched off the list of issues of today. Lisa Abend’s article “Boys Won’t Be Boys”, talks about the idea of Sweden making these needed changes to achieve this goal. This article uses allusions, ethos, and logos to prove that Sweden is on the path of changing the idea of gender inequality to something humanism.

Women legislators have consistently made up 22 per cent of Canada’s Parliament ranking Canada 48th in the world when it comes to electing women to its national parliament. Canada has lagged far behind other similar countries that are too rooted in values of liberal democracy, the welfare state, and social equality. On average, 43 per cent of women hold decision-making positions in Nordic countries. Why has Canada fallen behind in promoting greater female political representation? Feminists like Catherine MacKinnon, have argued that Canada’s lack of female political representation has been a result of the patriarchal character of Canada’s liberal political system in which concepts of formal

“Without doubt, the last century has witnessed an unprecedented expansion of women’s rights, in one of the most profound social revolutions the world has ever seen. One hundred years ago, only two countries allowed women to vote. Today, that right is virtually universal. Millions of men and women around the world today advocate to end violence against women, and a record two-thirds of countries have passed laws against it.” – Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Executive Director

In 1919, Grace Benny became Australia’s first woman in office catalyzing the female empowerment movement, which in result, provided women with opportunities to consider becoming more actively involved within the government and various associations (Victorian Women’s Trust 2017). In 1947, Sweden elected their first woman into the government position of ministerial, Karin Kock; she also influenced the evolution of the women empowerment movement; in addition, Knock, influenced a greater pull towards female participation in the economic and political parliaments (Sweden Sverige 2017). My analysis sheds light onto the various similarities and differences that helped form a progressive enlightenment on gender equality towards women in politics within both countries. Though Sweden and Australia vary significantly within their demographics, similar ideologies were used when initiating women stances in the governing parliaments.

While the term “sexism” dates from the mid-1960s and came into frequent use after the rise of women’s liberation movements in 1968-1969. Feminists in Eastern countries have also appealed to the United Nations to enforce women's rights. In the West, discussion has shifted from legal rights

Once we were the ones other countries look to, now the United States has to look at feminist from other countries for guidance. She questions this geographical shift and investigates the historical aspects of second-wave feminism. As Fraser discusses global identity politics she limited her viewpoint to Europe as reinventing feminism. She asserts feminist politics in the post-9/11 United States were slow to develop resources gender justice. As Fraser continues to discuss feminism and gender-coded politics in the United States, she doesn't address racial differences only class specifications. However, she does give her personal opinion on Republicans and Democrats as an example of gender politics. Fraser contends reframing feminism is necessary due to the misframing imposed on transnational feminists. Furthermore, Frasers still questions, “How can we integrate claims for redistribution, recognition, and representation so as to challenge the full range of gender injustices in a globalizing world?” (p.

Feminist’s forces support the political aspirations of women. They are interested in the actual participation of women in power structures and in social life in general (and not just formal equality). They examine the phenomenon of masculinity, a change in stereotypes of masculinity, as well as changes in the relations between the sexes. Partnership between women and men in politics is not only possible, but necessary. Politics is too serious and common cause to trust it only to men.

The feminist perspective of the Oslo Accords, focuses on the effect the failure had on women and children. Women are oppressed and are not allowed to express their political opinions because men are seen as the dominant force. After the Oslo Accords signing, women were shunned from voicing their political opinions in what they thought the new society should embody for women. In the Israeli and Palestinian society women are not allowed to be seen in public without being accompanied by a male.Women do experience domestic abuse at home and it is socially acceptable because women are autonomous objects. The Oslo Accords, were going to help women develop laws in favor of their rights but because of their failure the male-dominated society remains

In the article titled, ‘Feminism, Nationalism, and Militarism after the Cold War’, by Cynthia Enloe, the links between feminism and nationalism are discussed through the analysis of the Cold War. The article makes striking comments towards the treatment of women in the context of masculine societies. War is often associated with masculinity as men are expected to take up arms and fight for nationalism. This narrative of war often excludes the narrative of the women left behind as the men in their communities are expected to take control of the nation and impending war. The way history is recorded purposefully puts men at the forefront of every story listed in a textbook or taught to students. The grave reality is that women are as big a part

In today’s vast, democracy-fueled world, the concept of feminism has gradually taken on a significant role when it comes to modernity. The advocacy for equality of all women proves effective and boasts an undying faithfulness from women everywhere. Within the boundaries of the United States of America, feminism has grown since the establishment of the nation and continues to grow today, an issue that has especially risen in light of the recent election. However, beyond this great nation’s borders, feminism does not die in even the slightest way. Women all over the world are fighting for their equality and right to complete and total fairness. Despite the worldwide movement, it’s often overshadowed by other issues going on. Iran, the focus of Jasmin Darznik’s The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life, played (and continues to play) host to perhaps one of the greatest flawed societies when it comes to feminism. Through her powerful, poignant memoir, Darznik brings us into the midst of a particular lifestyle and the reality behind treatment of women in Iranian society.