Examine the feminist perspective of state and state security

Examine the feminist perspective of state and state security

The core of the feminism as an ideology lies at the generations old discrimination that the woman has faced just because of her gender. So, obviously the feminist mind has thought about state and the security of the state as a subject where those decimations can be nullified by providing enhanced explanations and revolutionary views.

Existence of a ‘structured’ system of promoting discrimination’ is the belief of feministic mind. Feminists look at the state as the expansion of that patriarchal society as such. Institutionalisation of patriarchy, patriarchal society and systems based on gender is perhaps more dangerous than anything else for a woman to be saved from the attacks of patriarchy proponents. That is what more or less state is all about. The state, because it is a reflection of people’s society more or less a patriarchal society attempts vehemently to control woman’s role. Reproduction – which is woman’s only domain, inheritance – which is actually to be considered as righteous right of a born and sexuality are governed and regulated by the state. The mental stigma that ‘woman’ is to be ‘protected’ by the man actually leads woman giving up her autonomy. The systematic deconstruct of the concept of state by Sylvia Walby quite clearly points out to woman’s labour and reproduction as objects of control by the state. It is evident that the perspective of feminists of the state is perhaps rightly influenced by the discrimination emanates out of patriarchy.

Over the period of time with the advent of feministic movements allied with other social movements, the state is compelled to change with time progressively. High emphasis and respect for democratisation served well to woman good. The woman’s reservation in parliaments, assemblies and institutions of self-government are at the centre stage of national debate in many countries. Electoral pressures and intellectualism have pushed many nation-states to sign conventions like Convention on Eliminating Discrimination Against Woman (CEDAW). Multi-national and international organisations have upped their mark to push change in pre-meditated conceptualisation of state by asking elimination of men’s only views regime is a right approach. From employment to violence, the patriarchal proponents and the philosophy as such have been challenged quite firmly because of positive effects of this new feministic conceptualisation of the state.

Well, it is quite obvious that in every sphere of state affairs the feminists look at the roles affecting woman that is quite different than the conventional. State security too is thought a bit different way. Men are those who fought and fight wars. It is man’s domain. There are the conventional thoughts. The feminists are critical of these views. They find state security affairs help patriarchal enthusiast to propend. Woman has historically been the victim of inhuman wartime crimes like mass rape etc. Feminism argues to broaden the very concept of security. It supports a theory where security related conflicts are not merely managed with the help of security personnel only but there is a need to have a sea change in understanding the idea of security of the state. This idea and perspective to security affairs should be understood and expound to keep peace with democratisation processes. Empowering the affected is one of the core way-outs accepted in this concept. The feministic perspective to state security somehow indicates to adopt peaceful measures as the violent conflicts management has historically dramatically cost more on women who are usually outside the state priority.

The feminist urges for peaceful approaches while dealing with the state security. This perspective is quite remarkable as it propends gender equality in a structured institutionalised system called the state.