Lowy Interpreter, Rodger Shanahan has written a post wondering why women are unwilling to write or talk publicly about international relations. At the end of this rather troubling post, Mr. Shanahan states that he “would welcome public comments from women who are unafraid to be published on the blog as to why women appear to be the forgotten sex when it comes to international relations commentary.”
Established female voices like Princeton University’s Anne-Marie Slaughter, former director of policy planning for the U.S. State Department, who currently writes for the Atlantic; counterterrorism expert Leah Farrall; Journalist Naheed Mustafa; the women who are helping to set policy at think tanks like Research Director Kristin Lord at the Center For a New American Security (the female representation of which was defended by Andrew Exum here); or young, vocal women such as Natalie Sambhi of Security Scholar; Diana Wueger, who writes for the Atlantic, UN Dispatch, and her own blog Gunpowder & Lead; the unconventional Courtney Messerschmidt of Great Satan’s Girlfriend; Lauren Jenkins of UN Dispatch and International Development Without Pity; Elmira Bayrasli of Forbes; entrepreneur and blogger Kalsoom Lakhani; Morehouse’s Laura Seay; and countless others currently seeking a voice through their work, through Twitter, or through a number of other avenues.
All of these women, and many others, are writing, talking, tweeting, blogging, debating, working in the field, taking every opportunity they can get to be heard. We are here. We are in the public realm. We want to be heard. It’s just not clear that you are listening.
2 comments:
now that you're done with your blog thingy, would please bring me a sammich and a beer?
Most people assume with reason that while many male commentators on national security affairs are veterans very few women are. Taking the Oath and going through some common period of uniformed service seems a reasonable contribution before influencing how others who wear the uniform are deployed. That does not mean that an extended period on active duty let alone combat need be expected, only a demonstrated willingness to serve.
For the record I believe that a period of universal basic uniformed service for about 6 months should happen for every citizen or lawful permanent resident after their 17th birthday or admission on an immigrant visa. Such a period of training and service should precede gaining the right to vote or sit on a jury or apply for any benefit or apply for naturalization.
It is a demonstrable fact that female bloggers on national security punch above their weight.
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