Gender and Race in International Relations
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What is a primary critique of the frameworks established for including women in peace processes?

  • There is a lack of gender-specific legal reforms.
  • Implementation remains inconsistent across regions. (correct)
  • Women are always depicted as agents of change.
  • Men are often prioritized in decision-making.

    • Which factor contributes to the criticism of tokenism in women's inclusion in peace processes?

  • Inclusion of women typically influences major policy changes.
  • Legal frameworks effectively empower women in decision-making.
  • Policies universally address women's economic status.
  • Women are often included solely for symbolic representation. (correct)

    • How are masculinity and femininity defined in international relations?

  • Inherent traits of individuals
  • Biological differences only
  • Socially constructed roles and norms (correct)
  • Cultural stereotypes of gender

    • Which of the following traits is often associated with effective leadership in a global context?

    <p>Strength and assertiveness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the existing frameworks often fall short in addressing women's real-world challenges?

    <p>They focus mainly on economic empowerment without structural changes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common consequence of the bias towards masculinity in leadership roles?

    <p>Women must conform to masculine standards</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the suggestions for addressing the reproductive economy?

    <p>Recognizing and compensating unpaid care work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is race defined in the context of social constructs?

    <p>Race is tied to power dynamics and social categorization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In international relations, what does intersectionality refer to?

    <p>The interconnected nature of social categorizations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What historical use of race justified imperial conquest?

    <p>Framing indigenous peoples as 'savages' for land dispossession.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do gendered narratives play in military interventions?

    <p>They utilize 'saving women' tropes as justification.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do feminine traits often get marginalized in leadership contexts?

    <p>They are seen as less valuable as compared to masculine traits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the 'hierarchization' of humanity?

    <p>It framed white Europeans as superior to non-Europeans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are racial inequalities represented in global supply chains?

    <p>By marginalizing the economic contributions of racial minorities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept is associated with the portrayal of Blackness during the transatlantic slave trade?

    <p>Servitude and inferiority.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why did Margaret Thatcher lower her voice pitch during her political career?

    <p>To be taken more seriously in a male-dominated system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Thatcher’s voice training impact her political navigation?

    <p>It helped her project assertiveness and rationality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does militarism exemplify within International Relations (IR)?

    <p>Hegemonic masculinity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What imagery does patriotism often invoke in the context of hegemonic masculinity?

    <p>The 'just warrior' defending the nation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary consequence of framing leadership through masculine ideals in global decision-making?

    <p>Perpetuation of gender disparities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by the term 'sexual division of labor'?

    <p>Division of work into 'male' and 'female' spheres.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the division of labor in the global economy sustained?

    <p>Through patriarchal norms and economic policies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes female labor within the sexual division of labor?

    <p>Caregiving and domestic work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of globalization, how does the sexual division of labor manifest?

    <p>Women overrepresented in precarious and low-paid labor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did race play in the political, economic, and social structures of colonial empires?

    <p>It justified segregation and forced labor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do modern trade systems reflect colonial power dynamics?

    <p>Predominantly white nations control trade rules to their advantage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenges did workers in the Global South face in modern supply chains?

    <p>Poor wages and unsafe working environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant issue related to global health during the COVID-19 pandemic?

    <p>Wealthier nations hoarded vaccines, creating shortages in the Global South.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does race continue to influence contemporary global institutions?

    <p>It reflects the dominance of historically colonial powers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What misconception persists around migration policies in wealthier countries?

    <p>They generally favor individuals from wealthier, predominantly white countries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What stereotype does the framing of the Global South contribute to?

    <p>A stereotype of incompetence and dependency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What outcome did segregationist policies have on indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans?

    <p>They denied political rights and subjected them to forced labor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does intersectionality primarily focus on in terms of oppression?

    <p>How various forms of oppression intersect and overlap</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which principle emphasizes that oppression varies by context?

    <p>Context-Specific</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does intersectionality relate to international relations?

    <p>It reveals inequalities produced by political and economic systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge do migrant women face when working as domestic and care workers?

    <p>Exploitative labor conditions and separation from families</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does climate change disproportionately affect certain groups?

    <p>Women and indigenous groups bear greater burdens in resource procurement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unique challenge do women of color face in conflict zones according to intersectionality?

    <p>Experiencing targeted violence and being overlooked in peace efforts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What reinforces global hierarchies between wealthier and poorer nations?

    <p>Exploitation of racialized and gendered labor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which systems of power are mentioned as interrelated in the context of intersectionality?

    <p>Patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of feminized labor in industries like textiles and electronics?

    <p>Perceptions of traits such as docility and patience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the reproductive economy?

    <p>It comprises unpaid work essential for sustaining life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does the undervaluation of reproductive labor have on gender inequality?

    <p>It exacerbates gender inequality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the productive economy, what dependency exists?

    <p>It relies on reproductive tasks performed primarily by women.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do policies like flexible working hours aim to address gender inequality?

    <p>By supporting the balance between work and care responsibilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a key focus of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda initiated by UNSC Resolution 1325?

    <p>Women’s participation in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What consequence did the COVID-19 pandemic have on women's unpaid care work?

    <p>A notable increase in the amount of unpaid care work performed by women.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a notable achievement of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda?

    <p>Highlighting the gendered impacts of war.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Gender and Race in International Relations (IR)

    • Gender and race significantly influence global politics, impacting leadership, wars, and the global economy.

    Agenda

    • How gender shapes global politics
    • Race and global politics
    • Intersectionality

    Examples

    • Leadership: Representation of women and racial minorities in positions of global power is a key IR concern.
    • Wars: Gendered and racialized tropes are used to justify military interventions (e.g., "saving women" narratives).
    • Global Economy: Feminized labor and racial inequalities influence global supply chains.

    Gender in IR

    • Defining Sex and Gender:
      • Sex: Biological differences (male/female).
      • Gender: Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and norms associated with masculinity and femininity.

    Masculinity and Femininity as Relational Constructs

    • Masculinity and femininity are socially constructed, not inherent traits.
    • These constructs determine appropriate behavior for men and women.
    • In international relations, they influence who is deemed a "natural" leader, often marginalizing feminine traits.
    • Leadership is generally associated with masculine traits (rationality, strength, courage). Feminine traits are often viewed as weak or inappropriate for leadership roles.
    • This bias perpetuates gender disparities in global leadership, and women must often "perform" masculinity to gain acceptance. This creates a dynamic that excludes women and non-dominant masculinities from power structures.

    Example: Margaret Thatcher

    • As the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher's voice training enabled her to project traits associated with masculinity (assertiveness and rationality), aiding her navigating a political environment that was biased against feminine expressions.
    • This highlights the relational construct of masculinity and femininity in leadership contexts.

    Militarism and Patriotism

    • Militarism embodies hegemonic masculinity (toughness, discipline, sacrifice).
    • Patriotism often involves the "just warrior" defending the "beautiful (feminized) nation," thus reinforcing men as protectors and women as requiring protection.
    • In colonial and postcolonial contexts, men from dominant powers are often portrayed as the rational defenders of civilization, while colonized men are feminized.

    Why These Concepts Matter in IR

    • Gendered Leadership: Framing leadership through masculine ideals affects global decision-making and perpetuates gender disparities.
    • Hegemonic Masculinity in Policy: Policies are driven by militarism and economic dominance, disregarding alternative approaches like diplomacy or cooperative economic models.
    • Relational Framework: Examining masculinity and femininity as relational constructs reveals how power is distributed and maintained in global systems. Challenging traditional IR theories that overlook gender dynamics is critical.

    Gender and the Global Economy

    • Sexual Division of Labor: Historically and structurally, work is separated into "male" and "female" spheres. Men often occupy higher-paid formal jobs, while women labor in caregiving, domestic work, and low-wage sectors (e.g., garment production).
    • Feminized Labor in Globalization: Certain industries disproportionately employ women due to perceptions of female traits (docility, patience, dexterity). Feminized labor often entails lower wages, poor working conditions, lack of union representation, and legal protections. Export processing zones (EPZs) often deny women maternity leave and benefits, prioritizing profit over workers' rights.
    • Reproductive vs. Productive Economies: The reproductive economy (unpaid work like child-rearing and caregiving) is often undervalued and invisible in economic metrics. Women often bear a "double burden" as they perform this unpaid work concurrently with formal employment. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the crucial nature of reproductive labor, revealing how women's unpaid carework significantly increased and further marginalized their economic participation. The productive economy (wage-earning activities) relies on the reproductive economy.

    Tensions Between Two Economies

    • The undervaluation of reproductive labor exacerbates gender inequality.
    • Policies aiming to address this division (e.g., flexible work hours, childcare support) are often inadequately implemented.

    Race and IR

    • Race as a Social Construct: Race is a social and political categorization, not a biological fact. It's used to ascribe attributes, competencies, and value to groups based on perceived physical characteristics (skin color, hair texture, facial features). Race ascriptions are arbitrary and change across time and place.
    • Historical Roots: Race was used as a central tool to justify imperial conquest and colonial rule, framing indigenous peoples as savages (e.g., colonization of the Americas). The transatlantic slave trade racialized Africans as inferior, using pseudo-scientific ideas to justify slavery. This racialization contrasted with whiteness, which was associated with civilization and superiority.
    • Race as an Ordering Principle: Race hierarchies underpinned colonial administration, dividing racial groups politically and economically. Indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans faced forced labor and denied political rights. These hierarchies were presented as natural.

    Race in Contemporary Issues

    • Persistence in Global Institutions: The power structures within international organizations (e.g., UN, IMF) reflect the dominance of previously colonial powers, marginalizing voices from Global South countries.

    • Global Economy:

      • Modern trade systems replicate colonial power dynamics where wealthier countries dictate trade rules, disadvantaging Global South countries.

    • Global economy (2): Companies frequently outsource production to the Global South, where workers, predominantly racialized women, labor in exploitative conditions.

    • Global Health: Access to healthcare and vaccines reflects colonial legacies, with wealthier nations hoarding resources during pandemics while many Global South countries face shortages. This reinforces stereotypes of incompetence toward the Global South.

    • Migration Policies: Immigration policies tend to privilege immigrants from wealthier countries, while criminalizing migrants from the Global South

    • Intersectionality: The intersection of race, gender, class, and nationality creates unique experiences of marginalization. Global political and economic systems produce and sustain inequalities that disproportionately affect marginalized groups

    Open Challenges

    • Addressing the reproductive economy explicitly (i.e., recognizing and compensating unpaid care work; expanding access to childcare and eldercare).
    • Bridging the implementation gap in international frameworks (i.e., monitoring compliance with gender equality goals; supporting grassroots initiatives addressing marginalized women's needs).

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    Gender and Race in IR - BAES Lecture 8 PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores how gender and race influence global politics, analyzing their impact on leadership, wars, and the economy. It will cover key concepts such as intersectionality and the social constructs of masculinity and femininity in international relations.

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