The Future of Feminist Security Studies Starts in Your Own Backyard

I think that the future of feminist security studies hinges on the future of more localized, day-to-day feminism. I think that before we look at IR, or while we look at it, we must also reflect on your own daily lives and communities. In order to build up feminist practices and ideologies abroad and on a global scale, women and men around the world must first start a discourse and critical thinking about gender within their own homes, schools, and local governments.

This localized feminism is looking dismal here in the US, or at least in my own communities. Feminism has become a dirty word, associated with radicals, lesbians (in a derogatory sense, as if "lesbian" is an insult), and "bitchy" women who take everything too seriously. In the US, particularly in my generation, we are living in a post-feminist world, where people seem to be under the impression that the movement--along with the gender inequality--is either over or no longer worth fighting for. 

I think it's easy for those of us who live in affluent countries and communities to look at women living in war-torn countries and see them as victims who need our help. I think that for the future of feminist security studies, we need to focus on moving even further away from white savior narratives and enter communities not to lead, direct or teach, but to show solidarity and provide support for the women and men within the community to help themselves. The best way that we, as feminists, can further the movement is to keep being curious, keep asking the tough questions, and to keep the discourse going within our own communities. When we do this, then we will actually have something to offer when we engage in dialogue with other feminists and other communities.