Women in Diplomacy, Being a Diplomat in a Patriarchal System

Being a woman often entails a constant struggle for survival. Regardless of skin color, language, ethnicity, educational background, or any other category, simply being a woman places half of the world’s population at a systemic disadvantage when pursuing advancement, achievement, or even basic aspirations—and the world of diplomacy is no exception. This paper examines the role of women within the diplomatic sphere. It offers a brief overview of women’s participation in Mexican diplomacy and explores the impact of feminist foreign policies by comparing the approaches of Canada, Sweden, and Mexico. Finally, it presents an internal reflection on the challenges faced by women serving as diplomats. Ultimately, this study seeks to identify areas of opportunity through which diplomacy can evolve to genuinely integrate women as active agents and decision-makers in international relations.