POLS 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 27: Jon Runyan, Post-Structuralism, Androcentrism

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2200
• Professor: Cindy Clarke

Document Summary

Differences between liberal perspective and post-structuralist perspective in feminism: liberal: having more women in authoritative roles. Focus on rectifying these issues: post-structuralist: look at the structure (rules, norms) we follow that are socially constructed. Often within these structures, there is a power relationship. We look at the gender relationship and gender norms. Act as if they are physical structures. Within these structures, we find these unwritten rules and norms that are serious power imbalances. These norms are communicated through language and discourse. Picking apart these theories to show these power relationships nothing is neutral. Post-colonialists look at the power relationships between the former colonies and their colonizers: look at the imbalance between them, still in our theories, perspectives, language, etc. Post-structuralist feminists look at the structures of gender socially constructed. They argue that the concept of power used in ir is highly problematic: criticisms: materialistic, narrow, gendered concept (masculine understanding)