Hegemonic Masculinity, Violence And War
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to Thank my Tutors at the University of Sussex,
Particularly Prof. Barbara Einhorn for her guidance and inspiration;
My good friends Samantha, Ben, Fiona and Joe for their discerning comments, provoking insights and my dear parents for their ongoing encouragement;
My housemate Fran for pretending not to have a social life for the last two months!
A Special Thank You to all the women who took part in my study.
You all put so much thought into our discussions, and were very patient with me, and my tape recorder!
ABSTRACT
This study draws on qualitative data and secondary research to analyse the themes of gender, militarism, violence and war. …show more content…
Masculinity and femininity are two categories which demand such attention, and the work of feminists and gender theorists have formed increasingly strong cases which reveal these distinctions as having been made through particular decisions, by specific people.2 By this understanding, the involvement of women in state militaries is never random.3 Robert W. Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity refers to a particular set of masculine norms and practices that have become dominant in specific institutions of social control. To become hegemonic, cultural norms must be supported by institutional power. Hence, hegemonic masculinity is a set of norms and practices associated with men in powerful social institutions.4 Once a particular set of behaviours has been established as the norm for appropriate conduct within any institution, it becomes difficult to critique, partly because normativity makes certain practices appear ‘natural’. As Annica Kronsell argues in her study of the Swedish Military, in the history of most military institutions, “masculinity has been normalized and …show more content…
These discourses also present characteristics such as physical weakness, and showing emotion as representative of femininity, and the antithesis of the warrior hero, and in doing so, create a gendered order along which men and women position
I would like to Thank my Tutors at the University of Sussex,
Particularly Prof. Barbara Einhorn for her guidance and inspiration;
My good friends Samantha, Ben, Fiona and Joe for their discerning comments, provoking insights and my dear parents for their ongoing encouragement;
My housemate Fran for pretending not to have a social life for the last two months!
A Special Thank You to all the women who took part in my study.
You all put so much thought into our discussions, and were very patient with me, and my tape recorder!
ABSTRACT
This study draws on qualitative data and secondary research to analyse the themes of gender, militarism, violence and war. …show more content…
Masculinity and femininity are two categories which demand such attention, and the work of feminists and gender theorists have formed increasingly strong cases which reveal these distinctions as having been made through particular decisions, by specific people.2 By this understanding, the involvement of women in state militaries is never random.3 Robert W. Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity refers to a particular set of masculine norms and practices that have become dominant in specific institutions of social control. To become hegemonic, cultural norms must be supported by institutional power. Hence, hegemonic masculinity is a set of norms and practices associated with men in powerful social institutions.4 Once a particular set of behaviours has been established as the norm for appropriate conduct within any institution, it becomes difficult to critique, partly because normativity makes certain practices appear ‘natural’. As Annica Kronsell argues in her study of the Swedish Military, in the history of most military institutions, “masculinity has been normalized and …show more content…
These discourses also present characteristics such as physical weakness, and showing emotion as representative of femininity, and the antithesis of the warrior hero, and in doing so, create a gendered order along which men and women position