Medact

Women are often portrayed as helpless victims in war, while men are often assumed to be combatants because of their gender. The reality of today’s conflicts is much more complex, with men being more likely to suffer violent deaths, and women playing all kinds of roles, from soldier to peacemaker. Nonetheless, the use of violence around the world is profoundly shaped by social norms relating to gender. This session will explore how gender, militarisation and war are connected, including how notions of masculinity in the British military have fuelled violence against local populations in Iraq and Afghanistan, harassment and abuse within the ranks, and mental health problems for troops themselves. SPEAKERS: Hannah Wright (Gender, Peace and Security Advisor, Saferworld), Julie Brethfeld (Conflict and Security Advisor, Saferworld), and Dr Julia Welland (University of Warwick).