This book explores collective consciousness and how it is applied to the pursuit of gender justice in international law. It discusses how the collective mode of behaviour and identity can lead to unconscious role-playing based on the social norms, expectations or archetypes of a group. Alexandra Walker contends that throughout history, men have been constructed as archetypal dominators and women as victims. In casting women in this way, we have downplayed their pre-existing, innate capacities for strength, leadership and power. In casting men as archetypal dominators, we have downplayed their capacities for nurturing, care and empathy.
The author investigates the widespread implications of this unconscious role-playing, arguing that even in countries in which women have many of the same legal rights as men, gender justice and equality have been too simplistically framed as 'feminism' and 'women's rights' and that giving women the rights of men has not created gender balance. This book highlights the masculine and feminine traits belonging to all individuals and calls on international law to reflect this gender continuum.

Discusses the theory of collective consciousness Applies collective consciousness theory to the pursuit of gender justice in international law Examines how collective modes of behaviour can lead to unconscious 'role-play'

Autorentext

Alexandra Walker is a Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales, Australia. She has practiced law and her research focuses on human rights and leadership.

Inhalt
Introduction.- Chapter 1. I Versus We: Introduction to Collective Consciousness.- Part One: Collective Consciousness in Theory.- Chapter 2. Entanglement: Individual & Collective Consciousness.- Chapter 3. The Theory of Collective Consciousness in Sociology.- Chapter 4. The Theory of Collective Consciousness in Psychology.- Chapter 5. The Field Hypothesis.- Chapter 6. The Collective Self Framework.- Chapter 7. How Collective Consciousness is Distorted: The Collective Unconscious.- Chapter 8. How Collective Consciousness Works.- Part Two: Collective Consciousness In Practice: Gender In International Law.- Chapter 9. Case Study Part One: The Collective Consciousness of Gender.- Chapter 10. Case Study Part Two: Unconscious Gender Role-Playing.- Chapter 11. Case Study Part Three: Raising Consciousness: Sexual & Gender Based-Violence in Armed Conflict.- Chapter 12. Case Study Part Four: Different Perspectives on Sexual & Gender-Based Violence.- Chapter 13. Case StudyPart Five: Empowering the Masculine & Feminine in International Law.- Chapter 14. Final Observations.