Challenging Hegemonic Masculinity : Conscientious Objection and Gendered Militarism in Finland
Moon, Myungjin (2024)
2024
Master's Programme in Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2024-05-13
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202405035227
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202405035227
Tiivistelmä
This thesis explores the intersection of gender, militarism, and conscientious objection in Finland, drawing upon feminist peace research and critical studies on men and masculinities. The research contextualises conscientious objection through a feminist lens within the framework of peace studies, investigating how it interconnects with the dynamics of masculinities and militarisation.
Based on in-depth interviews with Finnish conscientious objectors, the study examines how individuals negotiate their masculinity in relation to societal norms surrounding militarised masculinities. Thematic analysis was used to fully appreciate and interpret the nuanced narratives of the participants, elucidating their thoughts on their conscientious objection process, gendered militarism, and the gender equality discourse intertwined with conscription in Finnish society. The findings shed light on a multifaceted landscape where conscientious objection becomes a site for challenging hegemonic masculinity and resisting gendered militarism. The diverse motivations behind refusal are highlighted, including ethical considerations, political convictions, and gender identity concerns, all of which connect to the military as a gendered and gendering institution.
The study analyses the enduring link between masculinities and military service in Finnish society, alongside the gendered stigma encountered by conscientious objectors. It also delves into the research participants’ perspectives on the gender-neutral conscription debate as a means to uncover the constructions of masculinity that interact with existing gender norms. By examining how the participants reflect upon their objection and their positionality vis-à-vis gender relations within the Finnish context, the study underscores the potential emergence of non-dominant forms of masculinities as alternatives to hegemonic, militarised masculinities.
The thesis concludes by emphasising the significance of feminist-informed anti-militarist masculinity in the pursuit of gender equality, serving as a source for studying masculinity not only in relation to violence but also in the context of peace. Through its analysis of lived experiences and masculinity perceptions of Finnish conscientious objectors, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of gendered militarism and provides insights into ways of challenging militarisation and hegemonic masculinity in society.
Based on in-depth interviews with Finnish conscientious objectors, the study examines how individuals negotiate their masculinity in relation to societal norms surrounding militarised masculinities. Thematic analysis was used to fully appreciate and interpret the nuanced narratives of the participants, elucidating their thoughts on their conscientious objection process, gendered militarism, and the gender equality discourse intertwined with conscription in Finnish society. The findings shed light on a multifaceted landscape where conscientious objection becomes a site for challenging hegemonic masculinity and resisting gendered militarism. The diverse motivations behind refusal are highlighted, including ethical considerations, political convictions, and gender identity concerns, all of which connect to the military as a gendered and gendering institution.
The study analyses the enduring link between masculinities and military service in Finnish society, alongside the gendered stigma encountered by conscientious objectors. It also delves into the research participants’ perspectives on the gender-neutral conscription debate as a means to uncover the constructions of masculinity that interact with existing gender norms. By examining how the participants reflect upon their objection and their positionality vis-à-vis gender relations within the Finnish context, the study underscores the potential emergence of non-dominant forms of masculinities as alternatives to hegemonic, militarised masculinities.
The thesis concludes by emphasising the significance of feminist-informed anti-militarist masculinity in the pursuit of gender equality, serving as a source for studying masculinity not only in relation to violence but also in the context of peace. Through its analysis of lived experiences and masculinity perceptions of Finnish conscientious objectors, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of gendered militarism and provides insights into ways of challenging militarisation and hegemonic masculinity in society.