The Dilemma of Female Soldiers: Sociology of War and the Military Questioned through Gender

2022/10/20

An article with the somewhat sensational title "Lipstick and Rifles: The Unexpectedness of Female Soldiers" (Asahi Shimbun Digital, August 13, 2022)—triggered by the invasion of Ukraine, the existence of female soldiers has suddenly come into the spotlight recently. Among young men, claims such as "It's strange that feminists advocate for gender equality but do not call for gender equality in military service" have been seen on social media for some time. To reduce feminists to "women who want to be like men" is, simply put, a misunderstanding, but regarding women's entry into the military, a fierce debate has unfolded between feminists who support it and those who are wary of it. The existence of female soldiers, who can appear as either "perpetrators" or "victims" depending on the perspective, has always been a "dilemma" for feminism.

In this book, while showing this complex and diverse relationship between feminism and female soldiers, I have tried to discuss the issue in a way that does not get bogged down in arguments such as "Are female soldiers right or wrong?" On one hand, looking at the phenomenon through their experiences is essential for clarifying the male-centric nature of war and the military. On the other hand, it is necessary to pay attention to what our eyes are being diverted from by being captivated by the number of female soldiers and their brilliant achievements. In the case of Ukraine, saying "Even women are staying to fight" likely had the effect of justifying the general mobilization of adult men and gathering international sympathy for Ukraine.

Gender is a cornerstone for promoting militarization and successfully carrying out war. The state relies on the value that men who risk their lives for the country are "masculine," but in doing so, it also appeals to the "femininity" of women. In placing men and women in specific roles and carrying out war, the cultivation and manipulation of gender values are indispensable.

It has been a full 17 years since my previous book, "Military Organizations and Gender: Women in the Self-Defense Forces" (Keio University Press). I feel as though I have finally submitted a long-standing homework assignment. I will wait for the readers' judgment on whether this book succeeds in persuasively demonstrating that the perspective of gender is indispensable for a critical examination of war and the military.

The Dilemma of Female Soldiers: Sociology of War and the Military Questioned through Gender

Fumika Sato

Keio University Press

330 pages, 2,640 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.