Simply adding more women to the field of international politics will not make a difference in their visibility or in deconstructing stereotypes, said Margot Light, a visiting professor from the London School of Economics.
Light spoke yesterday afternoon at a luncheon sponsored by Women in Politics.
The luncheon was the first of seven events in the group's Spring term series, which is the second half of "Gender Issues in International Politics and Policy making" that began Winter term.
Light said the stereotypes of women in international politics as soft, passive and powerless are perpetuated by society's views of women in power and women in politics.
"Women are associated with soft issues like the environment so they reinforce traditional distinctions," she said.
"On the other hand, women who get into [powerful positions] on their own are identified as being quite masculine," she said. "Women often play down their feminine qualities to gain political power."
Light used Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of Great Britain, as an example of a woman who acted masculine to gain power.
Over the past few years, women's influence in international policy making has increased, but women still make up less than 4 percent of the field, Light said.
She said there are three reasons for the continuing under-representation of women in international politics: gender socialization, situation and social structure.
"Women internalize stereotypical norms that see their primary role as a mother," Light said. Women do not see themselves as political actors because aggressiveness is considered to be "unfeminine", she continued.
To improve women's international political status, Light suggested trying to change the definition of power, which now rests in men's hands, from a coercive to a cooperative one.
"If you want to change the [political] climate you have to change everyone's consciousness, not just women's consciousness," Light said.
Light said the structure of international politics conflicts with a mother's annual schedule because the government is not in session during the school year, when many mothers are available.
This conflict is "a dual reproductive and productive burden," that only women have, Light said. "Men don't have to make choices between them."
Light said women are usually identified with the private sphere, which revolves around the home and the family, and often have a difficult time gaining support in the public political sphere.
"There is a gender division of labor which affects women's access to political power," she said. The limited number of women in the field leads to less visibility and experience for women, she continued.
Kerry Whitacre '94, an intern for Women in Politics, said she was pleased with today's luncheon.
"I thought today's discussion went very well. Professor Light provided excellent background information about the field of women in international politics and policy making," Whitacre said.
