Bananas, Beaches And Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics

How have marriage policies and norms historically sustained patriarchy? Have those policies been reformed to reflect greater equality? Why or why not?

Why does Enloe select tourism as one of the industries she analyzes? How does this industry reflect the gender dynamics of international politics?

Why are nationalism and feminism potentially in conflict? Might a redefinition of nationalism avoid that conflict? Why or why not?

How have divisions among women sustained patriarchy in national and international politics? Consider the case of either military bases or women in diplomacy. How can women most effectively overcome such divisions?

Why does Enloe feature a picture of Carmen Miranda on the cover of the paperback edition? What role did Miranda play in international politics? Use textual evidence to explore how that role is emblematic of the use of women.

Enloe compares the fires at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 and the Tazreen Fashions factory in 2012. Using textual evidence, examine what this comparison implies about international politics and patriarchy.

Compare and contrast the role of human agency among those attempting to sustain and challenge national and international politics. Which is harder to do? Explain, using examples.

Why are domestic servants among the most exploited groups of workers? How does their plight exemplify the devastating impact of international politics on women’s lives? Have challenges to the status quo improved the lives of workers in this industry? If so, how? If not, why not?