Feminist

This piece discusses multiple perspectives on how gender relates to war. While I appreciate that Goldstein certainly provides a wide range of viewpoints, I have to admit that I found some of them too radical and feel like he really focused on the extremists from each school of belief. He related to a claim that the “feminization of world politics” over the past 100 years has created a “democratic zone of peace.” I found this ironic because I had learned in the past that the reason for peace between democratic nations has nothing to do with women in politics (especially since so few women hold elected positions), but has to do with the obligation leaders in democracies have to their constituents – so it is more difficult to enter into war, since you need the support of the people. While women technically have more rights in democracies, this does not mean that a “feminization of politics” has occurred. Further, when women do hold elected office, one might surmise that they will overcompensate for their feminine tendencies towards nonviolent methods by still engaging in violent conflict, in order to keep popular support, especially of other (mostly male) politicians and male citizens who will be waiting for her to look “weak” or put the nation in danger.