Scholars discuss whether nations fight wars because of natural male violence or societal conditioning. They explore the role of men in defending their community, gender inequality in the military, gender divisions in war, challenging gendered notions of manhood and militarism, and the challenges faced by women in the military.
The podcast explores the link between masculinity and warfare, highlighting how societal perceptions of manhood have shaped the historical association between men and war.
The podcast examines the gender dynamics within the military, focusing on the challenges faced by women entering this traditionally male-dominated realm.
Deep dives
The Magnificent Seven movie: A reflection on gender and violence
The podcast explores the 2016 remake of the movie 'The Magnificent Seven' and discusses its portrayal of gender and violence. The hosts highlight the diverse cast of characters in the remake, with Denzel Washington leading a team of skilled killers from various backgrounds. While the film celebrates racial diversity, it falls short in its representation of gender. The plot revolves around a damsel in distress asking men to solve her problem through violence, reinforcing traditional gender roles. However, the fiery and spunky nature of the female character challenges some gender norms. The hosts acknowledge that the movie glorifies violence, but also emphasizes the idea of men sacrificing themselves to fight for their community, exploring the link between masculinity and warfare.
Gender dynamics in the military
The podcast delves into the gender dynamics within the military, focusing on the experiences of women who enter this traditionally male-dominated realm. It examines the case of West Point, where combat arms were opened to all genders in 2016. Female cadets faced challenges such as prevailing gendered language and biases. The podcast raises questions about why women are still perceived differently than men within the military and explores the impact of gender on leadership and decision-making. The episode also highlights scholarly research that examines how military norms of masculinity, toughness, and sacrifice can negatively affect men's mental health and overall well-being.
The association between masculinity and war
The podcast explores the link between masculinity and warfare, delving into how societal perceptions of manhood have influenced the historical association between men and war. It suggests that the need for men to engage in violent conflict on behalf of their communities has shaped the construction of masculinity. The podcast references research arguing that men, even when not directly participating in the military, adopt cultural ideals of toughness and stoicism. The episode also discusses how these expectations can have negative consequences for men, contributing to higher rates of suicide and shorter lifespans. It questions the societal view that war is a natural expression of masculinity and highlights the importance of reevaluating and dismantling these associations.
The military contract and the erosion of individual liberties
The podcast examines the unique military contract that soldiers enter, which restricts their personal freedoms and subjects them to a different legal framework. The episode draws parallels between the military contract and traditional patriarchal relationships, where women lose their civil standing upon marriage. It raises the question of how this specific contract is legitimized by cultural perceptions of masculinity and societal expectations of men as self-sacrificial protectors. The podcast emphasizes the impact of this subordination on men's liberty, health, and overall well-being. It suggests that reevaluating these norms and expectations is crucial for creating more inclusive and equitable societies.
Do nations fight wars because men are naturally violent? Or do societies condition men to embrace violence so they’ll fight the nation’s wars?
Along with co-hosts John Biewen and Celeste Headlee, this episode features reporting by Barry Lam of the Hi-Phi Nation podcast, with scholars Joshua Goldstein of American University, Tom Digby of Springfield College, and Graham Parsons of the United States Military Academy, aka West Point.
Music by Alex Weston, and Evgueni and Sacha Galperine. Music and production help from Joe Augustine at Narrative Music. Song fragment, “Men,” by Loudon Wainwright III.
