As someone who is new to feminist security studies in general the question of where it will go is an interesting one. For me the evolution has not been especially apparent since my studies have involved all aspects of feminist security studies, including thoughts and approaches from older generations. My hope is that feminist security studies is incorporated into all fields. What field would not benefit from curiosity, empathetic cooperation, and exploring intersectionality (Wibben, 2011, p. 112)? I think that feminist security studies will have a hard time, and currently does have a hard time, being incorporated into other fields because there is the widespread misconception that feminism and its principals support the advancement of crazy, bra-burning, man-hating women.
Usually when I talk to people about feminism, they immediately becomes tense when I mention the word "feminism." However, when the word is eliminated from the conversation but the principals of feminisms are being discussed, generally people are willing to engage in the conversation. It is sad that the word produces so much hostility when all that it stands for is actually amazing and beneficial for so much of the global population. I feel like if the field of feminist security studies is going to really advance and be influential in all fields, especially those in the social sciences, people will need to be educated about its principles, what it stands for, and why it is important.
Moving forward, not allowing arguments of tradition to maintain patriarchal hierarchies and social structures, and drawing from experience to inform global and national policies alike should be the aim of all social science fields, not just feminist security studies. What I hope becomes the next focus of FSS is the idea and concept of change. That the change from our current masculinized and militarized political and social structures is nothing to fear, that the redistribution of power in civil society is not equivalent to that of a zero-sum game, and that change away from gender stereo-types will not render our society a genderless state, but rather a gender neutral state in which all members can participate effectively regardless of their biological differences. A true implementation of "Feminism is the political" (Wibben, 2011, p. 113)
Usually when I talk to people about feminism, they immediately becomes tense when I mention the word "feminism." However, when the word is eliminated from the conversation but the principals of feminisms are being discussed, generally people are willing to engage in the conversation. It is sad that the word produces so much hostility when all that it stands for is actually amazing and beneficial for so much of the global population. I feel like if the field of feminist security studies is going to really advance and be influential in all fields, especially those in the social sciences, people will need to be educated about its principles, what it stands for, and why it is important.
Moving forward, not allowing arguments of tradition to maintain patriarchal hierarchies and social structures, and drawing from experience to inform global and national policies alike should be the aim of all social science fields, not just feminist security studies. What I hope becomes the next focus of FSS is the idea and concept of change. That the change from our current masculinized and militarized political and social structures is nothing to fear, that the redistribution of power in civil society is not equivalent to that of a zero-sum game, and that change away from gender stereo-types will not render our society a genderless state, but rather a gender neutral state in which all members can participate effectively regardless of their biological differences. A true implementation of "Feminism is the political" (Wibben, 2011, p. 113)
References:
Wibben, A. T.R. (2011). Feminist Security Studies: A narrative approach. New York: Routledge.
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