Patriarchal problems, feminist solutions: incorporating feminist design into rational international interventions

Organizations, leaders, and parties create interventions with the intention of creating positive change for vulnerable populations. These interventions can be international institutions, treaties, responses, and practices developed by states or international organizations. However, these institutions often prove to be ineffective in achieving their goals. One of the main reasons, and my main argument for this dissertation, is that these institutions are designed under a patriarchal structure that limits the benefits to those who need them most. This structure privileges the experiences, ideas, and values of masculine traits and norms over feminine ones. I argue if these institutions were designed with a feminist lens, they would be better able to reach their intended populations. The incorporation of lived experiences, emotions, and inclusion of all vulnerable populations into these institutions can improve women’s rights, peace, and security for all citizens within the targeted communities. I use three examples of institutions that are ineffective in protecting and serving their intended beneficiaries and discuss what is necessary to improve the structural design of these institutions. By examining the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminations Against Women (CEDAW), civil war peace agreements, and the post-disaster responses of governments, I demonstrate that the patriarchal design of institutions hinders their ability to reach their intended beneficiaries. I propose a new design that changes the institutional structure to benefit everyone.