Feminism and Constructivism A Comparison - 2645 Words

The discipline of international relations (IR) is one that has witnessed a multitude of variations and shifts. It has produced a fair amount of debate between academics within the international relations scholarship. Due to a plethora of circumstances scholars have subjected the traditional rationalist theories of neorealism and neoliberalism to critical re-evaluations. As a result, constructivism is a concept that has emerged as an alternative approach to dominant IR theories. It focuses on the importance of state identities in defining and gaining knowledge of state interests, actions and goals. There are theorists who purport that the rise of constructivism allows for a further understanding of another international theory, feminism.†¦show more content†¦An individuals social location - meaning their ascribed identities, roles and relationships - are of central significance to feminists as it influences the power one possesses, which in traditional IR theory is gendered a nd patriarchical. According to Christine Sylvester, these scholars suggest that conventional IR has avoided thinking of men and women in the capacity of embodied and socially constituted subject categories by classifying them into neutral categories . Most theorists too readily accept that women are located inside the typically separate sphere of domestic life and ...retreating to abstractions, i.e. the state, that mask a masculine identity. Feminist analysts are suspicious of ungendered IR texts and champion for their subversion while many seek to implement replacement theories. These theorists contend that identity, gender, and indeed women, are social constructs. Key feminist conceptions include liberal ideas of womens equality, socialist conceptions of a sexual division of labour and the Freudian suggestion that identities are produced, often within the evolution of patriarchy . Many academics share the assumption that the world would be less competitive and less violent if wome n gained dominance in positions of power . The focus of this discussion is based on the premise that there are overlapping terrains in feminism and constructivism. They share ontological commitments leading to a commonShow MoreRelatedInternational Organizations And The Humanitarian Efforts Of The United Nations2063 Words   |  9 Pagesover three billion people struggle to survive on less than two dollars a day. And, almost one billion struggle to survive on less than one dollar a day (Weiss, et al 257). Although, this seems like a calamitous statistic, it is an improvement in comparison to the levels of poverty that existed before human right and humanitarian organizations intervened. For example, according to the World Bank, between the years 1999to 2010, the poverty level in Sub-Saharan Africa has decreased from 58% to 48%. AndRead MoreGrounded Theory And The Constructivist Theory3377 Words   |  14 Pagesthrough a constructivist lens. Constructivism Constructivism is an epistemological stance that views all knowledge as constructed through human experience (Charmaz, 2014; Crotty, 1998). Instead of discovering existing knowledge, knowledge is created by human beings as they interact with the world around them (Crotty, 1998). This knowledge is constructed and transmitted within a social context, thus understanding the social context is essential (Crotty, 1998). Constructivism reflects the concept of intentionalityRead MoreHuman Rights And The International System1841 Words   |  8 Pagesare viewed in the international system, we can now look at some prominent theoretical perspectives used in the field of International Relations. Realism, Liberalism, Economic Structuralism (a.k.a. Marxism/Radical Theory), Utilitarianism, Constructivism, and Feminism are the most commonly used base-level theoretical perspectives in International Relations. Theories are not perfect cure-alls, providing black and white answers for anything and everything they dwell in. Instead, they are tools, providingRead MoreReforming, Transforming and Conforming Essay3445 Words   |  14 PagesIn this essay I will discuss the comparisons and differences of the three models of theory and learning as identified by MacNaughton, Conforming, Reforming and Transforming (MacNaughton, 2003). This essay will look at how these theories are explained and can be applied individually or together within the learning pedagogy. My discussion will be of a reflective nature and include how I have understood these three models in relation to the early childhood learning environment and how I may relateRead MoreTechnical Obsession And Modernity Of Cinematic Reception5738 Words   |  23 Pagespresenting a new form of cinema, ?founded on its total separation from the language of theatre and literature.? The series of instructions excerpt from Vertov?s diary about this film[footnoteRef:6]. Post-revolution, futurist aesthetics evolved to Constructivis m[footnoteRef:7], aiming to, ?secure the triumph of the Revolution,? while advocating arts with, ?immediate needs? (Feldman, 1979, p27). 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