JPM774 (Gender and Security)

Winter 2022

Dr. Jolan Nisbet

jolan.nisbet@fsv.cuni.cz

Seminar Thursdays (18:30 to 19:50) with office hours directly after (19:50 to 20:50) via Zoom.

Description

JPM 774 considers the gendered constructs within security studies. The course will explore the feminist approach. The stance taken by feminist scholars is not always uniform, consequently, the course will begin by building an understanding of the key theories, concepts, and methodological approaches. Students will then critically consider the contributions of various feminist scholars to contemporary security debates.

Please note that JPM774 is taught as a seminar and active participation is essential.

Aims

-to understand various feminist stances within contemporary security debates

-to examine feminist criticisms of security

-foster a critical understanding of key feminist concepts and methodologies

Learning outcomes

-understand the key feminist critiques of the gendered nature of traditional security concepts

-be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of these contributions

-apply the feminist lenses to contemporary security debates

Key Skills

-increased independence as a researcher (notes, reviews, synthesis of a range of materials)

-increased clarity in verbal reasoning and written work

Seminar Overview

Part 1: Introduction

Week 1

Thursday, October 6th

Seminar 1: Introduction to Gender & Security

Part 2: Theory

Week 2

Thursday, October 13th

Seminar 2: Gender & IR

Week 3

Thursday, October 20th

Seminar 3: Feminist Security Theory

Thursday, October 27th

*Dean’s Day*

*No Seminar*

Part 3: Approaches

Week 4	Thursday, November 3rd	Seminar 4: Intersectionality
Week 5	Thursday, November 10th	Seminar 5: Epistemology, Ontology, Methodology

Part 4: Issues

	Thursday, November 17th	Freedom and Democracy Day No Seminar
Week 6	Thursday, November 24th	Seminar 6: Gender and National Security
Week 7	Thursday, December 1st	Seminar 7: War, (In)Security and Peace
Week 8	Thursday, December 8th	Seminar 8: Borders and Bodies
Week 9	Thursday, December 15th	Seminar 9: Peacekeeping
Week 10	Thursday, December 22nd	Seminar 10: Evaluating Feminist contributions to security studies

Assessment

Personal Narrative (5%)

As soon as possible (but no later than October 13^th) please upload to Moodle a short personal narrative (i.e. approximately 5 to 10 lines) outlining your interest in the seminar, what you hope to gain, and any other details you would like to share with the group. As the seminar is fully online this is a great way to connect with others who share similar research interests.

Seminar participation (10 seminars x 4% =40%)

As stated above, this is a seminar and engagement is essential! This means reading the material before the seminar as well as active participation through comments and questions during the seminar. It does not mean talking over others or attempting to dominate the discussion.

Presentation (20%)

After the first seminar I will post a sign-up sheet. Each student has the ability to select a slot (i.e. specific theme/question from a reading) based on the student’s schedule and interests from the “further readings” section.

Presentations should be between 8 to 10 minutes in duration. Please don’t go over your allotted time or stray from the focus. I recommend using slides as a guide, but please do not directly read from the slides. If appropriate, consider using maps, stats, quotes, images etc. Practice and get feedback beforehand. Try to engage your audience—your presentation will feed into a wider class discussion which you will moderate. Some seminars may need to be modified, but let’s aim for approximately 10 to 15 minutes of discussion.

Final Essay (35%)

Students are provided with the opportunity to select any topic of interest and write a 3000 word essay. You will write your own essay question, in consultation with myself.

The aim of the essay is to provide you with a short opportunity to further develop your research and writing skills around a specific argument. You must bring together a theoretical discussion with an empirical case(s).

I will make a Turn-it in link available from December 11^th, 2022 to January 11^th, 2023. Feel free to submit your essay at any point during this time. Please note that late work will not be accepted. Pre-arranged extensions may be possible if circumstances arise. I recommend that students start work as soon as possible and build in small increments. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If in doubt, please ask.

Some academic journals that you may find useful:

International Feminist journal of Politics (IFjP), Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society; Women’s Studies International Forum; International Studies Quarterly, Millennium: Journal of International Studies, European Journal of International Relations and Review of International Studies.

A few general points about the seminar:

-Gender and Security is a seminar, so please have your camera on and be ready to discuss the materials.

When preparing for our seminar please consider these points for each reading:

-What is the point the author is trying to make?

-Might any evidence/approach make the author's case stronger?

-Is there anything to be sceptical/ hesitant about?

-Do all the conclusions link/fulfil the purpose?

-How does it contribute to the field?

Please carefully consider the language employed during discussions.

Seminar 1: Introduction to Gender & Security

Required Readings

Scott Romaniuk and Joshua Wasylciw, “Gender Includes Men too! Recognizing Masculinity in Security Studies and International Relations” Perspectives 18:1 (2010) 23-40.

Gillian Youngs, “From Practice to Theory: Feminist International Relations and Gender Mainstreaming” International Politics 45 (2008) 688-702.

Discussion Questions

Reading 1

Why do Romaniuk and Wasylciw mention realism may not be able to respond to current security challenges?

Return to page 28 “policy alternatives may never be voiced for fear that they will be seen as weak, as feminine.” Reflect on this.

Reading 2

Define gender mainstreaming (p. 693 can help)

Discuss gender mainstreaming. Are there any advantages/disadvantages?

Further Reading

Defining Feminism/s:

Calvini-Lefebvre, Marc, et al (2010) ‘Rethinking the History of Feminism,’ in a special issue of Women: A Cultural Review, 21(3): 247-250 – and other articles in the special issue

Finlayson, Lorna (2016) An Introduction to Feminism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

hooks, bell (2000) ‘Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppre