Feminist perspectives on gender, the military, and war

This course provides you with an understanding of the relationships between gender and war. The course poses questions about the gendered nature of war, both in terms of how gender norms shape war as well as how war reshapes gender norms. You will develop your ability to undertake analysis from a gender perspective.

What does the course lead to?

During the course, you will examine how feminists and other critical scholars have challenged the meaning of war, and will explore the implications of analysing political violence through a focus on femininities and masculinities. You will learn to study the military, privatization, and civil-military relations through feminist analytical frameworks.

The course challenges dominant understandings of war using a feminist perspective, by drawing on practical examples taken from feminist research on violent conflicts around the world.

Structure of the course

The course consists of pre-recorded lectures, self-study, and independently written assignments.