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

Originally published in 1990, Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics by Cynthia Enloe exposes how coverage of international politics renders women invisible and therefore fails to question the devastating impact of those politics on their lives. Enloe argues that powerful men have intentionally sustained a gendered hierarchy in international politics and that women, acting collectively, can change this patriarchal system. The author draws on her experience as a professor of political science who has written extensively about women and politics in the field of international studies. The second edition of the book, published in 2014, was extensively updated and revised. For her many contributions to the studies of women and international politics, Enloe has received several prestigious awards, including the Zinn Lifetime Achievement in Peace Studies Award.

This guide refers to the 2014 paperback edition.

Content Warning: The book and this guide refer to sex and human trafficking, sexual enslavement, sexual harassment and assault, and domestic violence.

Summary

Political commentators (who are primarily men) often do not inquire about women’s roles in international politics, attributing them to tradition. Enloe investigates how power operates across international boundaries, and she aims to help women recognize the policy choices that support expected behavior.