Women Sudanly Making a Difference: Let’s Talk Gender & Political Change
In her seminal work, Cynthia Enloe asked ‘where are the women in international politics?’, establishing the founding question for subsequent gendered analyses of the international political economy (IPE). It is no secret that for most of history women have been relegated to the sidelines when it comes to the ‘visible’ actors in IPE — think politicians, diplomats, generals, soldiers and CEOs. What Enloe’s question allows us to do, is to not only acknowledge the fundamental role women have played and currently play outside of the traditional spotlight, but to also illustrate how women and feminine ideals are congregating inside of it.
Indeed, a gendered lens extends to discursive concepts of gender. In looking at the events that have unfolded in Sudan, we can see aspects related to femininity reign victorious over masculine archetypes in achieving political change.
April 11th marked the end of the 30-year rule of dictator Omar al Bashir, who ruled the country of Sudan with an iron fist, acquiring a couple of International Criminal Court indictments along the way for both crimes against humanity and genocide. Bashir was defeated not through customary attributes of masculinity like violence, but through peaceful ‘sit-ins’, largely led by women. The power vacuum which formed after Bashir’s exit has been filled by Sudan’s armed forces, much to the dislike of the original protestors, who are still to this day peacefully advocating for a civilian-led government. Peaceful demonstrations in Sudan were responsible for removing Bashir and will hopefully, with some luck, help the country move towards democracy. This movement can most accurately be described through adjectives associated with femininity — cooperative, tolerant and empathetic.
Most well-known transformations in history — The French Revolution, the October Revolution, the Rwandan post-colonial transition, and the military coup which put Bashir in power — were dominated and facilitated with force, the embodiment masculinity. Sudan shows us that political change can happen not only just at the hands of women, but through attributes of femininity. In greater macro economy and business environments, particularly in emerging markets, we should recognize climates facilitating the involvement of women and femininity as representing factors that will lead to positive change and more fruitful investment environments.
The women of Sudan clearly exemplify this, and they show no signs of slowing down.
Victor Wascher, Investment Intern
The Sudan opposition has rejected the Security Forces’ transition plan after Monday’s massacre, including snap elections, uncompromisingly advocating for a civilian-led government.
The Equality Fund is a fund aiming to invest $1 billion in initiatives which improve gender equality. Justin Trudeau’s government has committed $300 million.
For an interesting feminist perspective on the international political economy, read ‘Bananas, Beaches and Bases’ by Cynthia Enloe.
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