Feminism and Militarization

Militarized Masculinity

Feminist theorists have demonstrated that the military relies on and promotes violent masculinity. Military commanders have also used men's pride in their roles as fathers, sons, and heterosexuals to motivate them to obey commands, frequently through humiliation. The tenuousness of masculinity has particular consequences within the military, where superior officers and peers alike challenge men's manhood if they are unable to perform a required task or show signs of weakness. This perceived loss of masculinity renders a man “unfit” for military service, and violent masculinity is both legitimized and rewarded by the military. Feminists argue that male soldiers are required to prove their masculinity by committing violent acts, frequently against women. These constructions of masculinity, though, depend on an opposing construction of passive femininity, which is troubled by the presence of female soldiers.

Women Warriors

Women have been informally engaged in combat in every American war. However, this fighting was covert for much of the country's history because women in the United States were not allowed to join the military until World War II. Although women's involvement has increased and shifted dramatically since then, women are still generally excluded from ground combat. Feminist theorists argue that this exclusion reifies ideals of feminine weakness and encourages the notion that male soldiers should take care of their female comrades. Gender ideologies also promote sexist behavior and sexual harassment. The 1991 Tailhook scandal was one of the most infamous incidents of this kind within U.S. military history, when 83 women and 7 men were sexually assaulted, several of whom were female soldiers. One reason given for the Naval officers' behavior was resentment toward women's presence in the military, which had prompted a series of attempts at reforming military traditions. Feminists have also suggested that the paternalism that surrounds female soldiers situates them as second-class citizens and makes them more vulnerable to sexual assault and harassment.

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