Gender, War and Peace
J. Ann Tickner
Professor Emerita,
School of International Relations, University of Southern California
Distinguished Scholar in Residence, American University
Short description:
The course examines the extent to which conflict and its resolution have depended on
stereotypically gendered associations of men with war and women with peace.
Longer description:
Since its founding at the beginning of the twentieth century, the discipline of
International Relations has been centrally concerned with studying the causes and
consequences of war and the prospects for peace. Yet rarely has the question been asked
as to why, throughout history, it has been mostly men who were the planners and fighters
of wars as well as the architects of peace. Women, traditionally have been portrayed as
innocent civilians or victims. This course will examine the extent to which the waging of
war and the making of peace has depended on maintaining these gendered dichotomies.
Long version which will be used on syllabus:
Since its founding at the beginning of the twentieth century, the discipline of
International Relations has been centrally concerned with studying the causes and
consequences of war and the prospects for peace. Yet rarely has the question been asked
as to why, throughout history, it has been mostly men who were the planners and fighters
of wars as well as the architects of peace. Women, traditionally have been portrayed as
innocent civilians or victims. This course will examine the extent to which the waging of
war and the making of peace has depended on maintaining these gendered dichotomies.
Recent feminist scholarship has made explicit the masculinity of war and militarism. It
has documented the many ways in which women participate in wars – as soldiers in state
militaries, fighters in national liberation movements, and as suicide bombers. Yet women
and children are disproportionately also war’s victims – as refugees and victims of sexual
violence. Wars are rarely over when peace treaties are signed. After the conflict is over, it
is often women who must bear the burdens of providing care for war-torn families and
victims of war. Women have always been centrally engaged in peace-building also –
often behind the scenes and outside formal negotiations. Concerned with what goes on
during wars, as well as their causes and consequences, feminists have also brought to
light the myriad ways in which conflict and violence impacts the lives of ordinary people
– both women and men. Using a feminist lens, this course will examine all these issues.
Evaluation:
Students will be expected to do the reading before each seminar and be prepared to make
short oral presentations on the readings assigned for each class. There will be a final
written paper of no more than ten pages. The paper will comprise 70% of the grade and
the oral reports and participation 30%.