Women and International Relations: Pearl S. Buck's Critique of the Cold War

This article examines the relationship among gender, imperialism, and the Cold War through the lens of the life and work of Pearl S. Buck, prominent author and activist. Based on her background in China, Buck criticized American actions in the Cold War as an outgrowth of Western racism and imperialism, resulting in the alienation of Asians from the United States. Buck's gendered critique emphasized the harm done to women both in the United States and Asia by American reliance on military solutions; the inferior position of women in U.S. society, she argued, did not justify the American claim to world leadership. However, Buck also recognized the complicity of many American women in the Cold War drive, so her analysis was more nuanced than that of some women's peace activists. This article demonstrates connections between Buck's ideas and recent scholarship on women, gender, and foreign relations.