Peace and Security from a Feminist Perspective
Michelle Malsbury, BSBM, MM
August 06, 2009
Not much has been written on the topics of peace or national security from the feminist perspective and most that has been written has been discounted by the male dominated theorists and leaders alike. Women are two-thirds of the global workforce. (Brock-Utne, 2008) With so many women participating in our global day to day affairs it would be entirely remiss to dismiss the feminist ideas about how we can achieve peace and security. That is the reason why I have selected to highlight it [feminist theory] here in this article.
Men and women do not always see the issues through the same lens and certainly do not share the same life experiences. For instance, Men have viewed peace as an "absence of war....or prevention of armed conflict". (Reardon, 2008) However, that is a negative peace and one based on the assumption that promulgation of nuclear arms and a strong military will be a deterrent to potential devastating attacks/violence. Peace achieved on those terms is costly and dangerous and does little to preserve human rights.
Feminist theory looks at politics, economics, and conflict from a woman´s perspective based on the fact that men and women do not think alike. (Reardon, 2008) Perspective in this context being a person´s [woman´s] sense of reality. (Brock-Utne, 2008) Feminist theory hinges on equality between men and women and freedom from oppression/discrimination mutually recognized by all societies around the globe. Feminists see peace as a by-product of social/economic equality, ecological balance, and justice. Theirs is a positive peace that is far less dangerous and costly and more "life-affirming"/durable than their male counterparts.
Men place more emphasis on organizations, institutions, corporations, nation-states, and how people interact to maximize the interests of certain groups over other groups. Men are more competitive, assertive, and exclusive-dominators of society. (Reardon, 2008)
Women tend to be more cooperative, inclusive, conflict avoidant, and nurturant-partnership oriented. (Reardon, 2008) Women look for ways to emphasize how people can interact and collaborate to fulfill human needs and protect human rights that lead to human security for ALL.
Reardon (2008) suggests that there is a social contract between people and their governments, but that people and nations cannot be secure if their human needs are not being met. Governments provide framework and structure for a nation to produce goods and services that meet the needs of her citizens. Therefore, Reardon says a nation´s security depends on how well she provides for the welfare of her citizens. Balance is key to keeping things working at optimum. If there is more emphasis on warfare/nuclear armament in terms of dollars being spent and programs budgeted under those expenditures then there is less being spent on social and economic needs which means her [the nation´s] people suffer and her security is at risk.
Because men and women hold these diametrically opposite viewpoints/roles within society it can lead to varied concepts for peace and security. In many countries women are the subject of intolerable violence and this appears to be even more the case in more militarized nations. (Reardon, 2008) Combat training oftentimes marginalizes women, both in terms of negative and hostile language/insults and hostility toward them. The military is a hierarchial organization maintained by leaders and followers. Women seek freedom from and equality under such patriarchial and capitalist structures. (Brock-Utne, 2008)
Violence also plays a role in peace and security or lack thereof. If we can begin to understand how violence and peace are interrelated we can find some common ground to work toward world peace. Violence can be structural/psychological or physical, actual or potential [threat of, i.e. nuclear arms testing], manifest or latent. (Brock-Utne, 2008/Galtung, 2008) At the structural/psychological [intentional] level people are malnourished and die from starvation or diminished quality of life----this is governments failing her people. Physical violence is where people [usually women] are beaten or mutilated, sexually abused or burned, or raped. The absence of physical violence does not necessarily mean there exist positive conditions in that environment. All forms of violence are obstacles for peace and safety.
Feminist theory ties into peace theory: the lessening of war(s) around the world and the creation of peaceful communities. (Beer, 2008) Peaceful communities adhere to a universal form of human rights and treat their people equally. Wouldn´t the world be a safer and more peaceful place if leaders applied a little feminist theory?
References;
Reardon, Betty. 2008. Feminist Concepts of Peace and Security. 4pgs. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Brock-Utne, Brigit. 2008. Feminist Perspectives on Peace. 3pgs. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Galtung, Johann. 2008. Peace and violence. 3pgs. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Beer, Francis A. 2008. The Reduction of War and the Creation of Peace. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Men and women do not always see the issues through the same lens and certainly do not share the same life experiences. For instance, Men have viewed peace as an "absence of war....or prevention of armed conflict". (Reardon, 2008) However, that is a negative peace and one based on the assumption that promulgation of nuclear arms and a strong military will be a deterrent to potential devastating attacks/violence. Peace achieved on those terms is costly and dangerous and does little to preserve human rights.
Feminist theory looks at politics, economics, and conflict from a woman´s perspective based on the fact that men and women do not think alike. (Reardon, 2008) Perspective in this context being a person´s [woman´s] sense of reality. (Brock-Utne, 2008) Feminist theory hinges on equality between men and women and freedom from oppression/discrimination mutually recognized by all societies around the globe. Feminists see peace as a by-product of social/economic equality, ecological balance, and justice. Theirs is a positive peace that is far less dangerous and costly and more "life-affirming"/durable than their male counterparts.
Men place more emphasis on organizations, institutions, corporations, nation-states, and how people interact to maximize the interests of certain groups over other groups. Men are more competitive, assertive, and exclusive-dominators of society. (Reardon, 2008)
Women tend to be more cooperative, inclusive, conflict avoidant, and nurturant-partnership oriented. (Reardon, 2008) Women look for ways to emphasize how people can interact and collaborate to fulfill human needs and protect human rights that lead to human security for ALL.
Reardon (2008) suggests that there is a social contract between people and their governments, but that people and nations cannot be secure if their human needs are not being met. Governments provide framework and structure for a nation to produce goods and services that meet the needs of her citizens. Therefore, Reardon says a nation´s security depends on how well she provides for the welfare of her citizens. Balance is key to keeping things working at optimum. If there is more emphasis on warfare/nuclear armament in terms of dollars being spent and programs budgeted under those expenditures then there is less being spent on social and economic needs which means her [the nation´s] people suffer and her security is at risk.
Because men and women hold these diametrically opposite viewpoints/roles within society it can lead to varied concepts for peace and security. In many countries women are the subject of intolerable violence and this appears to be even more the case in more militarized nations. (Reardon, 2008) Combat training oftentimes marginalizes women, both in terms of negative and hostile language/insults and hostility toward them. The military is a hierarchial organization maintained by leaders and followers. Women seek freedom from and equality under such patriarchial and capitalist structures. (Brock-Utne, 2008)
Violence also plays a role in peace and security or lack thereof. If we can begin to understand how violence and peace are interrelated we can find some common ground to work toward world peace. Violence can be structural/psychological or physical, actual or potential [threat of, i.e. nuclear arms testing], manifest or latent. (Brock-Utne, 2008/Galtung, 2008) At the structural/psychological [intentional] level people are malnourished and die from starvation or diminished quality of life----this is governments failing her people. Physical violence is where people [usually women] are beaten or mutilated, sexually abused or burned, or raped. The absence of physical violence does not necessarily mean there exist positive conditions in that environment. All forms of violence are obstacles for peace and safety.
Feminist theory ties into peace theory: the lessening of war(s) around the world and the creation of peaceful communities. (Beer, 2008) Peaceful communities adhere to a universal form of human rights and treat their people equally. Wouldn´t the world be a safer and more peaceful place if leaders applied a little feminist theory?
References;
Reardon, Betty. 2008. Feminist Concepts of Peace and Security. 4pgs. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Brock-Utne, Brigit. 2008. Feminist Perspectives on Peace. 3pgs. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Galtung, Johann. 2008. Peace and violence. 3pgs. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
Beer, Francis A. 2008. The Reduction of War and the Creation of Peace. CARD/CARM 5000 Coursepack. Nova Southeastern University.
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