Militarised masculinity in armed conflicts – counter-strategies | Gunda-Werner-Institut

Expert Talk: Militarised masculinity in armed conflicts

Counter-strategies against militarised masculinity in and following armed conflicts

The Expert Talk was held on May 18th 2011, in Cooperation with medica mondiale and the German Women Security Council.

Gender roles and images change in times of crises, during and following armed conflicts, and so, too, do gender relations in a conflict-ridden society. The identity conflicts associated with this can lead to men concentrating their masculinity concept to militarised masculinity if they are unable to continue to fulfil their traditional gender roles. At the same time, there is an increased risk of their taking armed action against "enemies" and/or weaker persons on the outside, while directing their violence against women and children on the inside.

Against this backdrop, the presently applied intervention and conflict resolution strategies and concepts for ending armed conflicts and wars through international UN – or EU- missions; “peacekeepers” have been found not to produce lasting effects.

The expert talk aimed for an in depth discussion with experts from civil society and public institutions in order to develop strategies to constructively counteract expressions of brutalised masculinities, focussing on examples from the sub-Saharan region.

Speakers:
Andrea Böhm
Chris Dolan
Patrick Godana
Monika Hauser

Language:
deutsch/englisch mit Simultanübersetzung

Programe [»PDF]

Documentation

Expert talk: militarised masculinity - analysis and report

What does “militarised masculinity” mean? How does it affect armed conflicts and post-conflict situations? How can this problem be addressed? These were the core issues of an expert talk held in Berlin in 2011.

By Marieke Krämer and Gitti Hentschel

Militarised masculinity in Germany

Germans are responsible for two world wars costing millions of lives – not to mention countless injured, displaced and traumatised people. This was ultimately only possible because, in the decades leading up to these world wars, extreme forms of militarised masculinity called the shots.

By Dr. Ute Scheub

Impact of militarised masculinity on post-war societies carried forward to the next generation, with a focus on sexualised violence

Ways must be identified through which men can recognise what benefits they reap if they stop using violence. For they will only support women's interests if they are convinced that there is something in it for them. The question is therefore in what ways other than through violence + control can they experience respect! The slogan must therefore be that only “a weak man finds it necessary to use violence to get what he wants“.

By Monika Hauser

Vulnerabilities, Insecurities and Hidden Sexualities

Experience from (post)conflict regions. Refugee Law Project working with men in Uganda.

By Chris Dolan

One Man Can

One Man Can deals with three interconnected epidemics that are somewhat ravaging our country, our continent and the universe. I am talking about violence against women and children, HIV/AIDS and our silence two the two epidemics. To do justice it becomes important for me to share the hard facts about South Africa

By Patrick Godana

Pictures of the Expert Talk

Videodocumentations from the Refugee Law Project

"Gender against men"

Analyzes armed conflicts in Africa. In 2009 the Documentation won the prize for "best Documentation" at the Kenya International Film Festival.

"Getting out"

Spotlights the realities which LGBTIs are confronted to in Africa.

more on Militarised masculinity

Hegemonic Masculinity

The term “hegemonic masculinity” comes from the work of Australian men’s studies researcher R.W. Connell, who, meanwhile, has become a woman. Connell describes four basic patterns of how men deal with one another.

Further reading on Militarised masculinity (germ/engl)

Violent Conflicts and Conflict Prevention

The background of violent conflicts and wars is multifaceted. Yet, an essential factor is often disregarded in the cause analysis: gender-political dynamics. However, looking at the power relations between women and men is also important to understand how crises and wars develop, how they can be prevented and how lasting peace can be achieved. Peace is more than the absence of war. A gender-equitable and non-violent society cannot be realized through the military but through civil society forms of conflict regulation, mainly through prevention. The gender issue plays a decisive role in this process.