Make Your Own Damn Sandwich: The Future of Feminist Security Studies

I'm tired. It's the end of the semester, what else do you expect?

The future, the future... let's be honest, I don't know what to expect of the future, let alone what I'm going to wear tomorrow, what I'm going to eat for breakfast, or how I'm going to get my eye to stop twitching. It's insane and overwhelming to think that our class and some other people in the world have their eyes open to the many problems that surround us, yet there are still people who believe gay marriage is a sin and people who continue to say some woman deserve to be raped. *facepalm forever*

But despite my tiredness, I remain an optimist. Maybe it's because I'm a reader, but I believe stories are everything. A story can change your mind and show you a perspective you never considered. How do we get these narratives out there and start changing people's minds? There are so many angles to tackle these problems from - education, media, and politics all need major changes. I can't speak for the rest of the world, but Americans definitely seem to have very close-minded, uneducated notions about the world. For a country with so much influence in the global community, maybe we should start focusing our attention inward to fix the many domestic issues we have before we try and "spread democracy" around the world. Furthermore in order to learn about the narratives, of survivors (or anyone else), we have to develop the skills that will allow us to remain "attentive over time"... "The story might evolve, depending on location... as trust and friendship are developed... and as time passes" (Wibben 2011, p. 111). We need to be patient and aware of these changes. Never assume you know anything about someone's story or experience. Perhaps feminism needs to not just be "reaction to dissatisfaction with the way women have fared" but a way of life, a way of thinking that allows us to improve the state of the world (Wibben 2011, p. 111). 

In short, stories matter. I think in order for the future of FSS to be successful, we have to continue sharing/listening/telling these stories. It will be exhausting work... so somebody get me an energy drink!

- Jillian

Stop, Look and Listen: Feminist Security Studies and its Bright Future

Though I'm no expert in feminism, I think it's safe to say we've seen strides in reframing the way people think about women's issues. The recent Steubenville rape case brought justice to the victim and persecuted the perpetrator. Women are no longer excluded from combat in the US military. Women's rights came to the forefront of the 2012 elections. Grassroots movements like Slutwalk and student-led sexual assault protests across university college campuses have been sprouting since 2011.

Now I know that each of these examples pose and have posed other consequences that conflict with Feminist Security Studies. Yes, women can now serve all positions in the military, but how is that an answer to mediating hegemonic masculinity and violence in the US military system? Of course, the Steubenville rape case was a win for proving that the absence of "no" is not consent, but what about the sympathetic media portrayal of these sexual offenders? Even though women's rights were at the center of the political process during elections, were they truly being acknowledged or just used as tactical strategies for winning over female voters? And do these student movements correctly and effectively bring forth these women's issues to the political conversation?

The silver lining amidst these flaws and imperfections, I think, is the fact that these issues are more visible than they were even five years ago. Women's issues are featured on TV, print sources like newspapers and magazines, and most definitely the Internet - especially on blogs like this one! We have the great pleasure of accessibility to free publishing via social media and have the power to spread the feminist perspective that early feminists didn't have - and I think this is largely why these issues have risen to the front of politics in recent years. The feminist perspective is more prevalent than it once was. No one can pretend that women's issues don't exist. No one can pretend that Feminist Security Studies isn't a "real thing." The truth is that more feminist narratives are put out there, and - despite the fact that there is indeed tension when someone even tries to mention feminism in conversation - society is growing more comfortable with acknowledging the feminist perspective.

Maybe it's not that more people are willing to stop, look for and listen to the feminist narrative, but it's definitely becoming more visible... and maybe even unavoidable. People are now given a plethora of information to see that the intersectionality of our identities truly affect our experience of the world - all women do not necessarily share the same kinds of oppression (Wibben 2011, p. 107). We already see change domestically in the framework of the United States (hoping that breaking the record of women elected into our legislative branch will soon begin to change things!), so perhaps this is the first stepping stone into looking past our borders and pursuing feminist narratives in International Relations as well. If we continue to progress in the way we already are, it may not be a far reach from getting a hand in IR - but before we do so, society must continue to "develop a willingness to listen and to consider another view of the world" (Wibben 2011, p. 111).

I should acknowledge, however, that this is coming from my perspective - my narrative. I am, after all, in the lovely city of San Francisco, and also a college student in an institute with a largely liberal population. I always wonder if my views are skewed simply because I'm in one of the most liberal parts of the country - but I digress. I still would like to believe that Feminist Security Studies is moving towards a brighter future, and I hope I get to learn more about it and grow with it as the time comes.

Wibben, A.T.R. (2011). Feminist security studies: A narrative approach. London, Routledge.

Pornography + Feminism

I came across this picture while putting together my powerpoint slides on my paper examining pornography's relationship to feminism. Though I don't know I agree with it, I was very happy to find a picture that so succintly encapsulates the question I am trying to answer in my paper. What are your thougths? Is it a critique of post-feminism? An endorsement? In other words, is it suggesting that we are foolish to think we're finished with feminism, when things such as "cum-shots" are so glorified? Or is it promoting pornography and even "cum-shots" as the new feminism?

Future of Feminist Security Studies

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)

References:

Wibben, A. T.R. (2011). Feminist Security Studies: A narrative approach. New York: Routledge.

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. 

To Infinite, and Beyond

If I rubbed my crystal ball, seeking to decipher the future of feminist security studies, what would I be met with?

Nothing, probably, not being so inclined with divination. But where soothsaying denies, my mind supplies (or, at the very least, offers biased opinions and a few haphazard guesses). 

Chiefly, one day, I would like feminist security studies not to have that first qualifier. I would like the lives of women to be taken seriously and their experiences of violence, and war, and peace to be considered general experiences of violence, and war, and peace. Not general in that it is widespread, but general in that we don’t need to consider it the concern of a special interest group. Because rape, and sexualized violence, and structural violence, and although those other entities and forms of being which aren’t peace (and lets not getting started on what, exactly, peace is, anyways), concern everybody. And while I don’t advocate that color-blind or race-blind or inserttheroppressedandmarginalizedgroup-blind approaches are the way to go, at moment (because we first have to dismantle centuries of overt and institutionalized oppression, not to mention continuing prejudices and stereotypes, as well as all possible effects derived from these ugly histories--- and who knows long that will take), I hope we get to a place in the future where its not even an intentional choice but the norm.

Personally,  I agree with Professor Wibben on the potential harms of too many “feminisms” (after all, if feminism is inherently political, it has to have an agreed-upon agenda to cultivate a constituency). I also think it would behoove feminism and feminist critical security studies to adopt a wide variety of methods and to explore the bounty of disciplines. To “leave no stone unturned,” as it were. After all, systems of oppression poison all dynamics of our world, so it only makes sense to be equally comprehensive.  I believe there is a place for personal testimonials and a place for empirical observations. For participatory observation and covert reconnaissance. For assertions and for silence. This is, in part, because of my last wish regarding the future direction of feminist security studies. I think our understanding of security needs to be broadened. As nearly all of our reading has elucidated, the current US conception of security is defined by imperialist hegemonic masculinity. Security starts with the self, runs through the home, and colors relationships, cultures, societies, international networks. And as we further conceptualize a colony on Mars, I'll go ahead and assert that it'll define intergalactic life as well.


Cohn, C.(2011) “‘Feminist Security Studies’: Toward a reflexive practice” Politics & Gender 7 (4): pp. 581-586.


Wibben, A.T.R. (2011a) Feminist Security Studies: A narrative approach. Routledge.
(2011b) "Feminist politics in Feminist Security Studies" Politics & Gender 7 (4): pp. 590-595.


-Laur

Flirting with Danger: Power & Choice in Heterosexual Relationships.

Jillian and I went to see the film Flirting with Danger: Power & Choice in Heterosexual Relationships. I was already quite skeptical of just the title, as the term ‘flirting’, in my mind, brought up a connection to slut-shaming, as almost placing some blame on the victim. I interpreted it as a way of saying the women in the film were knowing towing the line between safety and danger, like a game.

A very interesting revelation brought up in the interviews, was that all the interviewees were highly educated and aware of what defined rape and sexual assault, yet they were not likely to label their interactions as such when they met the criteria. They would say they weren’t victims, they were not like ‘those’ women. I think this brings up a very important issue surrounding the stigma of being a survivor of sexual assault.

I really enjoyed how Lynn Phillips dissected the way popular culture idealizes two contradictory roles for women, that they are apparently suppose to embody at the same time: the overtly sexualized women and the ‘good-girl’ persona. Phillips showed clips of music videos, television shows, advertisements and many more that displayed these contradictory depictions. One second a woman is suppose to be a ‘strong’ woman in charge of her sexuality, the next she is suppose to be virginal and delicate. I’m definitely not sure what the solution to this will be, but it was extremely rewarding to have it pointed out so blatantly, as it was shown in the film.    

--Erika