Feminist Understanding of the International Relations and the Role of Significant Women

Leaders and Role of United Nations

Hello dear viewers. I hope you all are doing well. Today we are virtually communicating to
discuss very interesting themes. The title of today’s discourse is Feminist Understanding of the
International Relations and the Role of Significant Women Leaders and Role of United Nations.
But, we shall take this topic while dividing it into three different but related sub-themes; those
are (i) Feminist Understanding of the International Relation; (ii) The role of United Nations in
Women Empowerment and Gender Equality; and (iii) Role of significant women in shaping the
‘World Order’.

Feminist Understanding of the International Relation

International relations are one of the widest themes explored by different communities of the
world. Social scientists; academicians and researchers; governments of various nations; national
and international organizations as well as institutions have explained international relations with
their own approaches and perspectives. In these interpretations, the feminists understanding of
international relations hold its unique importance. The focus was of course ‘gender’, ‘the
women’ in specific, but with the passage of time and narrative experiences, these feminist
interpretations also changed their focus and thrust area. A large portion of the feminist
theoretical explorations of the international relations are dominated by the unequal life chances
and importance for men and women. These feminist interpretations have identified, realized and
explained the gender bias in multiple domains like war, economy, politics and the other realms
of human life. Most of these theories have claimed that the women and men are given
differential rights and privileges, which forcibly put women on a secondary position as compared
to men. Examples of such perspectives are Radical Feminism, Socialist Feminism and Liberal
Feminism. The claims of these theoretical orientations became so widely accepted that steadily
feminist theories became part of academics also in some course of time, further influencing the
world mind and governance. However, there are some feminist theories which have not seen
women as a weaker gender, and have worked on the communities which established examples of
strength and self- empowerment; as in case of Black Feminism. These theoretical perspectives
looked into the domain of international relations according to their own focus areas like,
inequality among men and 32women being the reason of all injustice; unequal distribution of
means and resources between men and women; equal rights and liberty for women and men; and
self -empowerment undertaken by women as a result of exploitation and suppression,
‘respectively’. On the whole, feminism understands and explains the gender stereotypes in
international relations. The content of ‘inter-sectionality’ has also been explored by feminism
while referring to international relations.

Feminism hits IR and explains that gender bias is reflected in all the socio-economic and socio-
political aspects like power, autonomy, security and state. The difference between men and
women and their relative social positioning is reflected in all forms of power and authority in the
world governance and IR. These thoughts under of feminism are known by the term,
‘Reflectivism’, further having theoretical offshoots known as (i) Constructivism; (ii) Post-
Structuralism; and (iii) Postcolonialism. According to the feminists, the IR theories and
researchers have explained international relations and world governance in such a way that
women are almost invisible in the explanations and interpretations. Very influential feminist
names Cynthia Enloe authored a book entitled, ‘Bananas, Beaches and Bases’ in the year 1989.
In this book, she has talked a lot about the political socialization of men, which has resulted in
physical exploitation of women. Cynthia says that in US military, men are socialized and made
to learn they are the protectors of women, hence their dominance make them physically
dominate and exploit women in personal social settings also. Women become victims of physical
violence due to men seeing themselves to be savours of women. Feminism has even seen
explanations of IR biased in context of role of women and men in wars and war related
conditions. According to feminism, women have been seen only as victims and weak section of
society which is always in need to help and pity. In the most contemporary terms, the political
participation of women on global level is almost negligible. Men participate more in politics and
administration as compared to women. For reference at this point, in 2015, the World Bank
estimated that out of the national parliamentarians, women constitute only 22.9 percent and the
rest are all men.

If we conclude this part of the discussion, we can say that the IR is blames for partial
understanding of the role and importance of women in the global scenario, including social and
family context, war and administration. The role women can play in power system, has been
under-estimated by the IR theorists and researchers, for which feminists regret and complaint
against too. For detailed discussion on different feminist perspectives like Liberal Feminism,
Radical Feminism, Marxist and Socialist Feminism and Post-Modernist Feminism, you all may
refer to my another lecture in this MOOC. The title of the lecture for your convenient reference
is ‘Feminist Approach to International Relations: Basic Issues’.

Let us now quickly practice one multiple choice question. This shall help you to deal with such
queries during your exams too.

Question 1. Feminists show concern about women not participating in the global………………
and ……… situations?

a. Society and family

b. Politics and economic
c. Economy and struggle
d. Politics, administration and war

Answer Key: D

The answer is ‘D’. We have discussed that feminists are worried about less or negligible political
participation of women in global politics. And more so in war situations, women and their roles
are under estimated and least explained. The best way to select the right answer is start omitting
the least important options. At times, options are confusing, hence it is important to see and
assess the options which need to be excluded. Hope this has been helpful. Let us now move to
next part of discussion, that is the role of United Nations in women empowerment and gender
equality.

The role of United Nations in Women Empowerment and Gender Equality

The department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations prepared an
internationally sounding document entitled, ‘The Sustainable Development Goals 2030’. Gender
equality is an apparent aim incorporated in these goals for which the United Nations encourage
all the member nations to work and design strategies for. United Nations and its various allied
organizations have been working hard for decades to bring about gender based equality and
balance the existing bias. UN has been taking a lot of steps to create a platform of equity and
equality for both men and women. Many UN organizations have been working for this aim, and
the Sustainable Development Goals 2023 have charged the environment even more rigorously.
In 2010, the UN General Assembly created the UN Women, which traditionally builds on the
four previously distinct parts of UN Systems, which categorically emphasize on gender equality
and empowerment of women. Those four systems are:

1. Division of the Advancement of Women (DAW).

2. International Research and Training Institute for Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).
3. Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women ( OSAGI).
4. United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

UN Women is the UN organization which creates policies and programs that protect human
rights of women and ensure that all women, from all age groups and all regions are able to live
life to their full potential. This is one such exclusive initiative which is pushing ahead the aim of
progress of women worldwide. It is making sure that women and girls benefit from the
governance systems and also relish economic autonomy. Ending violence of all forms, against
women is a major aim of UN Women. Achieving gender equality is not merely an economic
agenda; it involves social, cultural and other aspects also. UN Women is working on all such
aspects to promote gender equality and to end all forms of inhibitions that deter women to
develop and grow. Another major focus of UN organizations specially UN Women, has been
dealing with disaster management in most efficacious manner and organizing humanitarian
action; ending all sorts of discrimination against women and providing them a platform for
political as well as economic decision making; and the like. Managing the destruction as a result
of pandemics/ disasters and calamities, is another recent thrust area of the UN Organizations
working on gender rights and gender equality. The UN Humanitarian Strategy 2014-2017 is also
a milestone in this context. This strategy worked on various levels and stages like:

1. Recruitment of staff where demand for dedicated technical expertise cannot be met by the
current office structure;
2. Developing strategic partnerships with key humanitarian stakeholders offering stand-by
personnel through technical rosters;
 3. Continued capacity building of its senior national staffto create a pool of cadre that could
be deployed to detailed assignments to support integration of gender equality in
humanitarian action as required.

Hence, it has been observed that UN organizations did not leave any leeway to achieve the
end of women empowerment on global level by working on regional systems for a grassroots
level implementation. Let us practice a tricky multiple choice question now.

Question 2. Read the given statement.

“The UN Women aims at humanitarian interventions in case of disaster management and

also cater to situations in a way that women do not get victimized due to any form of
violence and are also made beneficiaries of any developmental or security policies by the
UN.”

Now answer, whether UN Organizations and UN Women mainly focus on

1. political empowerment of women

2. economic empowerment of women
3. socio-economic and political participation of women and girls
4. family and values aspect only

Answer Key is 3. Options 1, 2, and 4 show narrow scenario and the option 3 shows all
angles which are crucial to be focused while working for women empowerment. And the
rest of the three options given to us are incomplete and do not cater to the given statement
in totality. Having this little practice of question answers, let us now move to third part of
the lecture that is the role of significant women in shaping the world order.

Role of significant women in shaping the ‘World Order’

We have discusses how IR has been interpreted by feminists. Various perspectives developed
and understood IR in through their own notions. In the due course of time, feminism, feminists
and women all turned their intent towards development and growth. Women, today are a face of
global development. Women activism, women entrepreneurs, business women, women in
administration and on top political positions are some terms and happenings, we come across
often today. Especially in Asia, and Middle East to America this revolution is sounding loud.
Law and legal institutions with all commitment are all against rapists and other offenders in case
of any form of violence against women. Women are shaping the world order today, being on
positions of presidents, prime ministers and other prominent ones too. If we start naming them, it
shall take series of lectures to do so. But let us discuss about some women whose name is
marked in bright letters in the world of International Relations and global governance and global
social order.

1. Jody William is a name in context of advocacy for peace in the world. In 1997 Jody and
the International Coalition to ban Landmines (ICBL) received Nobel Prize for their work
to ban landmines. She was the one who provided prosthetic legs and arms to children
who lost those to mines and the work being done by them there. Her activism, here
toughness, and capacity to organize the rebel peacefully made her take this position in the
world order.
2. Another name which one can not forget to mention is Dr. Lise Meitner, a prolific
Austrian physicist. Meitner was member to the team which for the first time unlocked the
potential of the atom, a structure which has been central to international politics since
World War II. Being over looked by the Nobel Prize Committee, she was finally awarded
with the honor in 1944. Yes, this was her being a Nobel Laureate for Chemistry. Dr. Lise
along with her colleague Otto Hahn, made the scientists surmise that a fissile chain
reaction would release enormous amount of energy, generating an explosion of immense
power.
3. Let me mention about Gro Harlem Brundtland. Who cannot connect this name with
the concept of Sustainable Development? She was the ground on which this concept took
birth and prospered making the whole world economy redo and redefine its
developmental essentials and strategies. Brundtland chair the UN World Commission on
Environment and Development in 1983 and after three years of her work on the themes,
she produced a seminal report entitles, ‘Our Common Future’ which still is a world
constitution for environment and development.
4. Let us now talk about Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who has been Managing Director of the
World Bank, Nigerian Foreign Minister and Finance Minister also. Her role for the world
economy has been immensely respectable and unforgettable.
 5. Dr. Mable Newcomer a popular and highly respected economist, educator and author,
has been known as ‘the Tax Man’ in her years of influence. She was the first female Vice
President of the American Economic Association and a consultant to the U.S. Treasury.
She was the only American women at the Conference that established the International
Monetary Fund (IMF). She travelled around the world to establish institutions and guide
the world economy and her contributed in the world economy. The principles and
mechanisms designed and set y her, even today guide economic institutions.
6. Let us mention one more prominent name, that is Doris Stevens, who has been a
milestone in context of women’s right both in her home, America and abroad also. She
was a leader within the American suffrage movement and got arrested multiple times, but
did not get effected int terms of her commitment for the cause she was working on. She
was the first Chair Person of the American Commission of Women and it was during her
tenure that laws which worked for inequality, around the world, were recognized and hit
upon for workable amendments. This name even today lead movements of legal equality.
For the purpose of revision let us take one question at this point.

Question 3. Who of the following has been a Nobel Laureate of Peace:

1. Doris Stevens
2. Aruna Himadri
3. Jody Wiliam
4. Ngozi Okonjo

Answer Key: 3. We have just discussed that she was given Nobel Prize for her work
to ban landmines in 1997. This as simple one but here we learn that we have to
remember some terms, some prominent names at times, because these are Multiple
choice questions and they can carry such minute details also.
Conclusion
It is not only ‘gender’ which has influenced and governed the world social, political
and economic order. There have been many other determinants like economy,
 political structure, the nature and the size of population in different regions of the
world, the relative geographic conditions and environment of the regions and the like.
But yes, it cannot be ignored that gender has been one prominent determinant factor.
‘Gender’ has been a direction for many international treaties, systems and
commissions leading the world to what we have today in terms of governance
systems and democracies. IR has been interpreted and explained by many schools and
institutions and also many perspectives. In these perspectives, the feminist
perspective holds a big importance since it influenced the world systems to a large
extent and brought to the world to settle on universal aims like gender based liberty
and equality. Feminist perspectives interpreting IR have been criticized too for being
biased internally for quest of power for women and for running an ‘anti-men’
ideology, but still, they successfully became tools to interpret the world order.

I hope we have been able to understand our set themes (i) Feminist Understanding of the
International Relation; (ii) The role of United Nations in Women Empowerment and Gender
Equality; and (iii) Role of significant women in shaping the ‘World Order’. I also hope that the
questions we have discussed in the lecture will be helpful to prepare your all for your exams.
Wish you all the best. God bless all.