Engaging from the Margins: Feminist Encounters with the ‘Mainstream’ of International Relations
Author(s)
Steans, Jill
Abstract
The influence of feminist perspectives upon contemporary international relations scholarship is investigated; specific attention is directed toward analyzing the various points of contention between feminist and mainstream international relations scholars. The origins of feminist international relations theory are documented, emphasizing the emergence of feminist challenges to mainstream (ie, neo-realist and neo-liberal institutional) perspectives and the specific contributions of feminist approaches to international relations (eg, illuminating the various ways in which gender played a role in creating political spaces and constructing identities). After highlighting the central characteristics of the feminist perspective, especially its eventual turn toward standpoint feminism, multiple pieces of mainstream international relations scholarship that critiqued feminist international relations research, eg, Adam Jones’s (1996) assertion that men and masculinity were overlooked by feminist international relations work, are reviewed to determine whether such criticism is indeed justified. Sundry difficulties with these mainstream critiques of feminist international relations theory are noted; in addition, it is argued that feminist approaches have facilitated attempts to overcome troubling dichotomies within the international relations field. The extent to which feminist perspectives will influence future international relations research is also contemplated.
