9- Gender Dimensions

Question 1

what’s the main focus of liberal feminism?

Answer 1

making women visible in security

Question 2

what’s the main focus of standpoint feminism?

Answer 2

redefining security through the feminist lens

Question 3

what’s the main focus of post-structural approaches?

Answer 3

deconstructing gender categories

Question 4

what does liberal feminism want to do?

Answer 4

ensure the representation of women

Question 5

what does standpoint feminism want to do?

Answer 5

include women’s experiences to transform global politics & question gendered assumptions

Question 6

what does post-structural approach want to do?

Answer 6

critically engage with the consequences of gendered thinking

Question 7

limitation of liberal feminism

Answer 7

based on a fixed understanding of men vs. women & lacks concrete measures for representation.

Question 8

limitation of standpoint feminism

Answer 8

can reinforce divisisions between men and women
can we really generalize women vs. men’s perceptions of security (its important to know that gender is socially constructed)

Question 9

limitation of post-structural approaches

Answer 9

causes distraction
and limits the abilty to speak for “women”

Question 10

which approach says this “we should redefine the way we understand security through a feminist lens”

Answer 10

standpoint feminism

Question 11

explain the international vs. domestic distinction in standpoint feminism

Answer 11

Traditionally people assume that the male experience matters internationally, and the women’s experience matters domestically. however, according to standpoint feminism this narrative needs to change. women’s experiences should be thought of as international too.

Question 12

why should we have women in peacekeeping negotiations?

Answer 12

1. women work accross lines (coalitions, or divides)
2. women broaden the agenda (also include economic, and legal reforms)
3. women focus on post-conflict recovery

Question 13

what’s the aim of the women, peace, and security agenda?

Answer 13

women must be critical actors in all efforts to achieve sustainable international peace and security.

Question 14

4 pillars of the women, peace, and security agenda.

Answer 14

1. prevention
2. participation
3. protection
4. relief and recovery

Question 15

theoretical origins of the WPS agenda

Answer 15

WPS is often associated with liberal feminism, which emphasizes equal rights and opportunities for women within existing political and economic structures.

However, the WPS agenda also draws on the principles of standpoint feminism, which emphasizes the importance of understanding the perspectives of marginalized groups in order to challenge dominant power structures.

Question 16

post-structuralist critique of the WPS agenda (2)

Answer 16

1) the agenda’s focus on increasing women’s participation in the security sector reinforces the idea that gender is a binary category. -> This ignores the fluid and intersectional nature of gender identity.

2) The emphasis on individual agency and empowerment may distract from the larger structural issues that perpetuate violence.

Question 17

what’s the challenge behind securitizing women’s rights?

Answer 17

securitizing women’s rights means it should be dealt with traditional security approaches (hard policies, peacekeeping etc.)
this means there’s less emphasis on economic and security change.

Question 18

4 positions on the causes of sexual violence during war

Answer 18

1. essentialist
2. structuralist
3. social-constructivist
4. conflict research position

Question 19

Essentialist Position suggests

Answer 19

=> Suggests that war increases men’s opportunity for rape (no rule of law etc.)

Question 20

limitations of the essentialist approach

Answer 20

• overestimates the occurence of rape
• criminalizes all men

Question 21

Structuralist Position suggests

Answer 21

=> Suggests that rape is used to shame male relatives and the wider group who failed to “protect” women during war.

Question 22

limitations of the structuralist position (2)

Answer 22

1. Overlooks sexual violence against men
2. Limits occurrence of sexual violence to ethnic wars

Question 23

Social Constructivist Position suggests that ..

Answer 23

sexual violence during war is an expression of power relations between men and women - where the feminine= inferior and the masculine = superior.

sexual violence is not an inherent characteristic of war, but rather a reflection of societal beliefs about gender roles and norms.

Question 24

limitations of the social constructivist position

Answer 24

may underestimate the vulnerable position of women.
it may not fully recognize the extent to which women are disadvantaged and oppressed in societies.

Question 25

Conflict research position tries to understand….

Answer 25

why sexual violence happens in some conflicts but not in others.

Question 26

how can we understand why sexual violence happens in some conflicts but not in others? (according to the conflict research position)

Answer 26

1. opportunism sexual violence happens when perpetrators have the opportunity (like when they capture a village
2. strategic interests armed groups may use sexual violence as a tactic to achieve their goals (e.g ethnic cleansing)
3. socialization some members of armed groups may use rape to gain social status, and assert dominance

Question 27

what does “opportunism” mean in the conflict research position?

Answer 27

people rape when they have the opportunity
like when they capture a village

Question 28

what does “strategic interests” mean in the conflict research position?

Answer 28

armed groups may use sexual violence as a tactic to achieve their goals (ethnic cleansing)

Question 29

what does “socialization” mean in the conflict research position?

Answer 29

some members of armed groups may use rape to gain social status, and assert dominance.

Question 30

what are the limitations of the conflict research position

Answer 30

doesn’t consider that sexual violence can happen outside of war, and doesn’t explore the reasons behind the continuities between war and peace.

doesn’t explain why similar wars have different levels of sexual violence.

Question 31

3 General Critiques of the WPS Agenda

Answer 31

1) Gaps in Implementation
- WPS has been implemented in a shallow way, with little meaningful change on the ground.
2) Securitization of Women’s Rights
women’s rights have had to fit into the UN’s security agenda, rather than the security agenda fitting into women’s rights.
3) Victimization
The WPS agenda often focuses on the experiences of women as victims of conflict, rather than recognizing their contributions to peacebuilding.

Question 32

why do feminists criticize “rape as a weapon of war”

Answer 32

it suggests that rape is just one of many tools used in war, like guns or bombs. But rape is not a weapon - it is a form of violence and a violation of human rights.
By treating rape as just another tactic of war, we downplay its serious impact on individuals and communities.
the phrase implies that women are passive victims who are helpless in the face of war, when in reality women are often active agents in resisting violence and creating peace.