The Gendered Dynamics of Covid-19: International Politics and Women Leaders

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown how states are as vulnerable as individuals are to infectious diseases, and how the world is socially and economically interdependent. Since the beginning of the pandemic, borders have been shut, travel restricted, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests made mandatory, and quarantines imposed. Meanwhile, the provision of masks, disinfectants, and vaccines has become a matter of competition among states. However, it has become clear that these policies must change and closing state borders alone cannot bring complete security against the virus, nor can the inoculation of a single nation; rather it depends on the global vaccination rate. Therefore, the Covid-19 crisis is not merely a challenge to the state’s role or the global health system, but also the traditional international relations. Gender studies question the traditional understanding of androcentrism and the ideal of being-depicted with masculine values such as healthy, independent, able-bodied, rational and competitive. They emphasize feminine values such as vulnerability, interdependence and emotionality, which are inherent in the individual and have been more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. This study first analyses developments in international politics during the Covid-19 pandemic through the lens of gender. Secondly, considering Covid-19‘s impact on women globally, it focuses on their struggle against the pandemic, from the perspective of effective leadership, rapid crisis response, and socially inclusive policies.