Vision for a Feminist Peace:
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Excerpted from the report of a convening held by Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, MADRE, and Women Cross DMZ in February 2020. See www.feministpeaceinitiative.org
As transnational feminists united against militarization and war, we call for a feminist foreign policy that reorients the United States' role in the global community to prioritize interdependence, connection and cooperation, justice, valuing people and the planet over profit, and protecting the most vulnerable among us. We envision a radically reoriented US foreign policy that addresses the root causes of war and militarism, which wage violence at home and abroad. This calls for aligning the concerns of US communities of color and Indigenous Peoples with peace and justice movements in places impacted by US militarism and the legacies of colonialism. Building this vision requires us to engage in cross-movement and cross-border conversations that center the voices and leadership of women of color, Indigenous Peoples, gay, and gender nonconforming people committed to gender justice and peace — voices that have been absent from dominant discourses on foreign policy.
We must recognize that the militaristic framework has failed us both domestically and internationally. Massive investments in the Pentagon have wreaked violence and instability around the world through the support of dictatorships, coups, the “war on drugs,” “war on trafficking,” and settler invasion of indigenous lands, resulting in the displacement of millions of people worldwide.
We call for investments in a regenerative economy to build a more socially fair and ecologically sustainable society. This must include recognizing the gendered impact of the pandemic as nurses, teachers, domestic workers, caregivers, cleaning and food service workers — roles typically occupied by women — are now being recognized as the true backbone of society. Yet this labor is some of the most undervalued and least paid. Women already perform a majority of unpaid labor in the home — which has increased and intensified with social distancing and stay-at-home measures — while continuing to maintain their jobs with little support for, or reprieve from, their added care-giving responsibilities. And for millions of women and gender nonconforming people currently forced to stay inside, home is the most dangerous place.
To rectify historic injustices and contribute to a world rooted in equity over inequality, care of the planet over exploitation of resources, and cooperation instead of domination, we urge you to join us in the immediate call for the following actions:
Now is the time to join together to create the change we envision. By mobilizing ourselves and our communities, we can democratize US foreign policy, not only for our own collective security, but for the future of all peoples and our planet.
Image: Women Cross DMZ
As transnational feminists united against militarization and war, we call for a feminist foreign policy that reorients the United States' role in the global community to prioritize interdependence, connection and cooperation, justice, valuing people and the planet over profit, and protecting the most vulnerable among us. We envision a radically reoriented US foreign policy that addresses the root causes of war and militarism, which wage violence at home and abroad. This calls for aligning the concerns of US communities of color and Indigenous Peoples with peace and justice movements in places impacted by US militarism and the legacies of colonialism. Building this vision requires us to engage in cross-movement and cross-border conversations that center the voices and leadership of women of color, Indigenous Peoples, gay, and gender nonconforming people committed to gender justice and peace — voices that have been absent from dominant discourses on foreign policy.
We must recognize that the militaristic framework has failed us both domestically and internationally. Massive investments in the Pentagon have wreaked violence and instability around the world through the support of dictatorships, coups, the “war on drugs,” “war on trafficking,” and settler invasion of indigenous lands, resulting in the displacement of millions of people worldwide.
We call for investments in a regenerative economy to build a more socially fair and ecologically sustainable society. This must include recognizing the gendered impact of the pandemic as nurses, teachers, domestic workers, caregivers, cleaning and food service workers — roles typically occupied by women — are now being recognized as the true backbone of society. Yet this labor is some of the most undervalued and least paid. Women already perform a majority of unpaid labor in the home — which has increased and intensified with social distancing and stay-at-home measures — while continuing to maintain their jobs with little support for, or reprieve from, their added care-giving responsibilities. And for millions of women and gender nonconforming people currently forced to stay inside, home is the most dangerous place.
To rectify historic injustices and contribute to a world rooted in equity over inequality, care of the planet over exploitation of resources, and cooperation instead of domination, we urge you to join us in the immediate call for the following actions:
- Re-allocate Pentagon spending towards meeting human needs as outlined by the People's Bailout (https://peoplesbailout.org/), including healthcare and paid sick and family leave for all, halting of evictions and foreclosures, and honoring treaty obligations to Indigenous Peoples.
- Respect and extend a global cease fire, end active military operations, and permanently change course away from endless wars toward peace building, diplomacy and development.
- Permanently lift US economic sanctions against Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and 25 other countries.
- Stop US political, economic & military support for authoritarian governments, such as Israel and India, that inflict violence on the people of Palestine and Kashmir.
- Drastically reduce jail, prison and detention center populations.
Now is the time to join together to create the change we envision. By mobilizing ourselves and our communities, we can democratize US foreign policy, not only for our own collective security, but for the future of all peoples and our planet.
Image: Women Cross DMZ
Feminist Foreign Policy
by Patricia Hynes (An Excerpt from Feminist Foreign Policy)
Equality of women within countries predicts best how peaceful or conflict-ridden their countries are. Democracies with higher levels of violence against women are more likely to choose force rather than diplomacy to resolve conflict.
Nearly 200 women in politics surveyed in 65 countries agreed, “Women’s presence in politics increases the amount of attention given to social welfare, legal protection, and transparency in government and business.” Experimental studies of women and men negotiating post-conflict agreements have found that all-male groups take riskier, less empathic and more aggressive positions. They also break down more quickly than negotiations that include women. Further, men are more satisfied with decisions made with women involved than with all-male groups.
Feminist foreign policy would redefine national greatness by its cooperative agreements with countries based on partnering on climate, pandemics, biodiversity, aid for humanitarian purposes, trade and astute diplomacy to avoid militarized conflicts.
H. Patricia Hynes is a retired Professor of Environmental Health and current Chair of the Board of the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice.
Equality of women within countries predicts best how peaceful or conflict-ridden their countries are. Democracies with higher levels of violence against women are more likely to choose force rather than diplomacy to resolve conflict.
Nearly 200 women in politics surveyed in 65 countries agreed, “Women’s presence in politics increases the amount of attention given to social welfare, legal protection, and transparency in government and business.” Experimental studies of women and men negotiating post-conflict agreements have found that all-male groups take riskier, less empathic and more aggressive positions. They also break down more quickly than negotiations that include women. Further, men are more satisfied with decisions made with women involved than with all-male groups.
Feminist foreign policy would redefine national greatness by its cooperative agreements with countries based on partnering on climate, pandemics, biodiversity, aid for humanitarian purposes, trade and astute diplomacy to avoid militarized conflicts.
H. Patricia Hynes is a retired Professor of Environmental Health and current Chair of the Board of the Traprock Center for Peace and Justice.
