Question 4 How is feminism linked to pacifism? What does Franklin mean when she argues “peace is not the absence of war- peace is the absence of fear”? Flashcards
Question 4 How is feminism linked to pacifism? What does Franklin mean when she argues “peace is not the absence of war- peace is the absence of fear”?
Feminism and pacifism are linked as both challenge systems of domination and violence. Early feminists were Quakers, and Quakers were important in both the abolition and feminist movements. Ursula Franklin, a Canadian pacifist and feminist, explicitly connects women’s rights and opposition to militarism, viewing them as ‘two sides of the same coin’. She argues that the normalization of violence in society, including the building of military machines, is intertwined with other forms of oppression. When Franklin argues “peace is not the absence of war—peace is the absence of fear,” she means that true peace goes beyond the mere absence of armed conflict; it requires the removal of the underlying fear and insecurity that perpetuate violence and injustice. Negative peace (absence of war) is insufficient; positive peace (freedom from violence, fear, and inequality) is the true goal. Fear can manifest in various forms, including fear of violence, fear of oppression, and fear of the unknown, all of which need to be addressed to achieve genuine peace.
