Gender and Politics by Bahar Çırak

According to Lock, if something is natural, is it just? What differs him from Rousseau? Week 2

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-03-02 17:10:37 UTC

These two thinkers argue for different things about the concepts of nature and justice. If we talk about Locke, he argued that there is equality in nature and freedom among living things. For this reason, everyone had natural rights. Although he believed in natural law, not everything natural was fair according to him. Although he believed in the natural rights of the individual, he also recognized the need for a social contract and the establishment of civil societies to secure these rights. According to him, we can say that justice was a matter of protecting property. Therefore, the fact that something is natural, according to Locke, does not imply that it is inherently just or just. Now coming to Rousseau, according to him, in the state of nature, people live in peace, but he argues that society and civilization corrupt human nature. According to him, true justice could be found in a return to nature and supported a more collective and egalitarian society. He believed that returning to a more natural, primitive way of life would lead to a just and virtuous society. Although Locke accepted the state of nature and natural rights, he did not see the natural as just in all cases. Because everything that is natural could not completely satisfy the law. Rousseau, on the other hand, believed in a more direct connection between nature and justice and advocated a return to a more primitive way of life.

Why is monarchy not as durable as the subjection of women ? Why does Lock believe that women’s subjection is one of the most durable forms of injustice? Week 3

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-03-02 17:43:02 UTC

According to Locke, in his understanding of the state of nature, it is argued that individuals are born equal and have natural rights to life, liberty and property. According to Locke, legitimate authority is established by the consent of the governed and a social contract. The main purpose of the government is to protect the natural rights of individuals. Any deviation from this equality is seen as a violation of the natural order. Also included in this violation is the subordination of women. It reveals that there are political and authoritarian problems in slavery, monarchy, and the subordination of women. The basic summary of this situation is that if a situation occurs without a person's consent, this principle is violated. According to Locke, social justice can be achieved by protecting natural rights and ensuring equality among individuals. Slavery, monarchy and unfair conditions applied to women create inequality and injustice among individuals, therefore, according to Locke, they are considered violations. In conclusion, Locke's comparison emphasizes concepts such as natural equality, rights, consent, and social justice, showing that slavery, monarchy, and the subordination of women are contrary to these basic principles. These situations challenge Locke's philosophical foundations for the order of nature and the protection of the natural rights of individuals.

According to Pateman, what is the biggest failure of liberal writers with respect to gender equality? Week 4

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-03-12 12:53:04 UTC

First of all, I will start my article by talking about Carole Pateman. Carole Pateman is a political scientist and feminist known for her work on democracy and gender issues. According to Pateman, one of the biggest failures of liberal writers on gender equality is their neglect of the private sphere, especially the institution of the family. This is the greatest of violations because society begins with the family. Liberal theories traditionally emphasize equal rights and citizenship in the public sphere. But it often overlooks the inequalities and power dynamics that exist in private spheres. This is just like the woman who is a mother in the role of mother and father in the family has fewer rights than the man who is a father. Pateman argues that the liberal tradition, which emphasizes individual rights and freedoms, does not adequately question and regulate the traditional patriarchal structure embedded in family life. The private sphere, especially within the family, is seen as an area where hierarchies and inequalities continue and women may face disobedience and lack of autonomy. According to Pateman, the social contract is a "sexual contract" that legitimizes male domination in both public and private spheres. According to Pateman, it revolves around the failure of liberal writers to extend their commitment to equality and individual rights into the private sphere, where traditional gender roles and power imbalances persist. He criticizes liberals for addressing and correcting the sexist aspects of citizenship and social contract theories in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of equality. In conclusion, Pateman sees the liberals' approach to social equality as inadequate.

What is public and private spheres? And how are they related to gender inequality? Week 4

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-03-18 22:40:53 UTC

First of all, I will start my article by talking about what public and private space are. The public sphere covers the area of society where political, economic and social interactions take place outside the familial sphere. Its content includes things like political participation, employment, education and public discourse. The private sphere refers to the areas of close relationships, family life and domestic activities. It consists of housework, child rearing, and emotional support within the family unit. If we delve deeper into the historical examination of these two areas, we focus on and point out the public sphere, which is predominantly occupied by men, where individuals exercise power, engage in economic transactions, and participate in civic life. In the private sphere, it is traditionally associated with women's roles and responsibilities. Because men are often expected to manage the household and care for children while they are busy with public activities. Through these examinations, gender inequality emerges in the context of public and private spheres, due to historical and cultural norms that assign different roles, responsibilities and levels of power to women and men in each field. If I had to give a few examples of inequality in this context, these are; Professional Segregation, Historical Division of Labor, Political Representation, Social Norms and Expectations. Efforts to address gender inequality often involve challenging and transforming these established norms and structures in order to create more equitable opportunities and outcomes for individuals regardless of gender, in both the public and private spheres. Due to these requirements of public and private spaces, gender inequality and these spaces are very closely related.

Week 5

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-28 19:24:28 UTC

First of all, I would like to start my article with the main theme of this article. According to Blanchard's article, it addresses the relationship between gender and feminist security theory. In the article, it is stated that national security is often discussed and dominated by masculine politics. For this reason, gender shapes security theories. This feminist security theory offers different perspectives on understanding national security issues, offering an approach to mitigate security issues globally. This article emphasizes that challenges such as technological warfare, the "war on terror" and peacekeeping can be addressed from a perspective towards reducing gender-based global insecurities. Feminist security theory addresses security issues in a more comprehensive and ethical way, emphasizing the importance of gender in international relations.

If I were to focus on the important points in this article, it is that national security debates are often dominated by masculine politics and the importance of gender in shaping security theories. Another point is the approach of feminist security theory to reduce security problems on a global scale. Another point is that the difficulties of war on terrorism, technological war and maintaining peace in the world can be solved by reducing global security problems. Feminist security theory addresses security issues more comprehensively and ethically, and this is one of these points. Another one creates a different perspective in international relations with the diversity and complexity of the concept of security.

As a result, the article discusses the important contributions of gender and feminist perspectives to security discussions in international relations. The issues discussed in this article are examined in greater depth and help me develop a more comprehensive and inclusive perspective of international relations by bringing a different perspective to security issues by examining the role of gender in international relations in more detail in the context of feminist security theory.

Week 1

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-28 19:26:08 UTC

Start of the term

Week 6

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-29 21:24:19 UTC

Fiona Robinson's article "Rethinking Human Security" focuses on the complex security issues found today. Unlike the traditional understanding, the article links human security not only with military threats, but also with economic, social and environmental threats. Robinson mentions that human security is not only limited to wars between states, but is also linked to many other factors such as poverty, disease, environmental disasters, and human rights violations. In this article, he presents an approach to addressing human security that puts the needs of individuals and societies at the center. He argues that more sustainable and accurate solutions can be developed with these approaches and the results it has obtained in the name of security. Although he has not yet fully concluded how this will be implemented, he thinks it will transform international relations. As a result, in this article, the concept of security is revived and gains a new perspective. But for this to be constructive, the international community is needed.

Week 7

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-29 21:24:38 UTC

Mid-Term Break

Week 8

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-29 21:24:55 UTC

Walby's article "The European Union and Gender Equality" examines the development of gender regimes in Europe and its impact on gender equality. In this article, Walby talks about employment regulations due to the complexity of the gender regime in the European Union. It argues that its structure shaped by employment regulations is different from global trends. In addition, the focus is on the increasing influence of the European Union on gender equality and the role of feminist activism in shaping EU policies. Walby discusses in detail the important developments and their impact on gender equality in the European Union.

If I focus on the arguments of this article, one of them is that gender regimes in the European Union are complex and have an impact on gender equality. Another argument is the role of economic forces in the European Union on gender inequality. The other argument is that the European Union's employment and social inclusion arrangements are shaped and differ from the global situation. Another argument is the effects of feminist activism on national and EU institutions, legal regulations and equal rights discourses. The conclusion I can draw from this article is found in the arguments I wrote. Walby contributes to the understanding of developments in gender equality by providing a detailed analysis of the European Union's gender equality policies and the impact of feminism at the EU level.

Walby emphasizes the complexity of gender equality, arguing that gender relations and inequalities are not just simple. At the same time, he argues that it should be addressed by understanding the complexity of different dimensions and relationships. Additionally, in her work on the European Union's gender equality policies, Walby examines how the EU's expanding powers have an impact on gender equality.

Week 9

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-29 22:00:38 UTC

In this article, the definition of Feminist Foreign Policy in 2021 is mentioned and talks about the developments of various countries around the world. In addition, the potential benefits and challenges of implementing feminist foreign policy on a global scale are discussed. Feminist foreign policy is becoming an approach that attracts the attention of more and more countries around the world and is adopted. With this movement launched by Sweden in 2014, other countries were also influenced by the lead. Some of these include France, Mexico, Spain, and Libya. With this situation, the importance of women's rights and gender equality issues in international relations has been ensured. The feminist foreign policy practices of the countries mentioned in the article are based on basic principles such as protecting women's rights, increasing women's representation and promoting gender equality. The success and effectiveness of these policies need to be monitored and evaluated on a regular basis. For example, the establishment of an independent evaluation mechanism to evaluate the implementation of Sweden's feminist foreign policy could be an important step in monitoring the effects of the policy. Feminist foreign policy is seen as an important tool for women's empowerment and gender equality in international relations. The broader adoption and implementation of these policies can contribute to achieving gender justice at the global level. However, the difficulties and obstacles to be encountered in this process should not be overlooked. As a result, the concept of feminist foreign policy offers a new perspective in international relations. Thanks to this concept, it is considered an important step to protect women's rights, increase their representation and promote gender equality. Wider adoption and effective implementation of these policies is an important step towards a more just and equitable world at the global level.

If I talk about the feminist foreign policy approaches discussed in the article, the first is that this foreign policy is not only for women. It applies to all genders subject to power imbalance. It is not tied to a single strand of national affairs like feminist diplomacy or feminist national aid. It covers all areas of foreign policy and international relations. It was established so that rights holders can raise their voices. Every gender can support it.

Week 10

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-04-29 22:05:14 UTC

The article titled "Violence Against Women in Politics" emphasizes that women have made significant progress in democratic political life around the world. The increasing presence of women in national parliaments and their increasing presence as social and political activists is discussed. The article emphasizes that the increasing presence of women in politics draws more attention to wide-ranging policy issues and encourages greater interest and participation among young women. He states that this encouragement and change within society have created far-reaching transformations in gender roles. However, women still struggle with the challenges they face in politics. In addition, the violence they faced should not be forgotten. Such actions aim to restrict women's policy contributions, prevent them from participating in elections, and reinforce existing gender norms. It is said that such behavior poses a serious threat to democracy. Mona Lena Krook argues that cultural, religious or traditional excuses to prevent women's political participation undermine democratic values and prevent women from being equally represented in the political sphere. Krook argues that women's political participation should be encouraged in order to protect democratic values. The arguments in the article are written this way. As a result, ensuring the equal representation of women in the political field will contribute to the strengthening of democracy and the advancement of gender equality.

Week 11

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-05-01 21:43:10 UTC

This article provides a comprehensive review of Europe, European feminism, and women in Turkey. As a geographically and culturally diverse continent, Europe has adopted various approaches and policies on women's rights and gender equality. European feminism, on the other hand, has developed in different historical and cultural contexts in different countries by reflecting this diversity and has played an important role in the struggle for women's rights. Women in Turkey, on the other hand, have faced various social and political challenges throughout history, but have made progress through the struggle for women's rights and feminism. Although women have made progress in areas such as education, employment, and politics in Turkey, they still face various inequalities and discrimination. This article provides a broad perspective by comparing the experiences of women's rights and gender equality in Europe with the situation of women in Turkey.

Week 12

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-05-01 21:43:16 UTC

In this week's article, we discussed the waves of feminism in the age of globalization by discussing the Kemalist, Islamist and Kurdish women's movements in Turkey. Offering an analysis of different feminist movements in Turkey, this article discusses in detail the challenges they face in fighting for women's rights and gender equality and how globalization affects the development and strategies of these movements. This article explains the evolution and interaction of three waves of feminism in Turkey: the Kemalist, Islamist and Kurdish women's movements. Feminist movements especially conflict with issues such as ethnic identity and state ideology. We learned how feminism interacts with various ideological and ethnic currents, focusing specifically on how Kurdish nationalism and Islamic revivalism have influenced and shaped mainstream feminism in Turkey. The article explains how feminist activism is related to changing political conditions, highlighting key turning points in the development of feminism in Turkey. In conclusion, this article has deeply examined the historical and contemporary aspects of feminism in Turkey, helping us understand the evolution of women's movements and gaining a broader perspective on the struggle for gender equality in Turkey.

Week 13

zeynebbaharcirak1 — 2024-05-05 12:00:13 UTC

In his article, Code Pink generally supports peace and the anti-war movement. It examines how groups such as Code Pink, Raging Grannies, and Missile Dick Chicks rose to prominence in the anti-war movement, used performance art, and fought for social change. It talks about how these groups question women's traditional roles, defend their right to fight for peace, and challenge gender norms. Pink emphasizes the importance of women in the peace process and supports women to make their voices heard and contribute to peace. Therefore, Code Pink's main goals include peace, women's rights, and anti-war activism. Briefly, the article examines Pink's role and influence in feminist performance activism in detail. If I focus on the arguments of the article, it is emphasized that feminist performance activism was used as a tool to question sex and gender norms in the anti-war movement. With its performance activism, it reaches large audiences through the media and other activists, strengthening the anti-war movement and raising awareness for social change. With these arguments, Pink highlights the importance and impact of feminist performance activism in the anti-war movement.