Feminist Theory and Gender in IR

Question 1

According to most contemporary feminists, what is gender?

a) A natural behaviour linked to someone’s sex
b) One’s biological sex
c) An identity one can choose at will
d) A learned performance that organises social, political and economic relations

Answer 1

d) A learned performance that organises social, political and economic relations

Question 2

Why is gender important to IR?

a) It isn’t
b) Because there are more women leaders now
c) Because gender influences, structures and informs international relations
d) Because women are naturally peaceful and, as such, should help to run the world

Answer 2

c) Because gender influences, structures and informs international relations

Question 3

In what way does feminism challenge mainstream security studies?

a) By campaigning for women to be allowed to be soldiers
b) By broadening the notion of security away from just looking at the nation-state and militarism
c) By acknowledging that men are naturally aggressive and have a higher propensity to encourage conflict
d) By campaigning for peace

Answer 3

b) By broadening the notion of security away from just looking at the nation-state and militarism

Question 4

Early feminist approaches to development have been criticised for:

a) Only looking at women
b) Not engaging with development agencies
c) Having unrealistic aims
d) Ignoring women’s roles in production

Answer 4

a) Only looking at women

Question 5

Why is a queer theoretical approach to international relations useful?

a) Because not everyone is heterosexual
b) Because homosexuality is illegal in some countries
c) To expose the ways that international relations reinforce heteronormativity
d) To promote LGBT rights

Answer 5

c) To expose the ways that international relations reinforce heteronormativity