Women and WarWomen and War

Lecture Notes for Peace Studies IILecture Notes for Peace Studies IIJanuary 24, 2007 (0900-1030, Rm. 404)January 24, 2007 (0900-1030, Rm. 404)

Mikyoung KimMikyoung KimHiroshima City University-Hiroshima City University-Hiroshima Peace InstituteHiroshima Peace Institute

Multiplicity of Women’s Multiplicity of Women’s Roles during WarRoles during War

• Women as WarriorsWomen as Warriors• Women as WorkersWomen as Workers• Women as CaregiversWomen as Caregivers• Women as Sex SymbolsWomen as Sex Symbols• Women as Objects to ProtectWomen as Objects to Protect• Women as Victims of ViolenceWomen as Victims of Violence• Women as Peace-MakersWomen as Peace-Makers• (refer to the attached visual images)(refer to the attached visual images)

Women and War (I)Women and War (I)

War CasualtiesWar Casualties::• World War I: 80 percent of casualties were World War I: 80 percent of casualties were

soldierssoldiers• World War II: 50 percent of casualties were World War II: 50 percent of casualties were

soldierssoldiers• Vietnam War: 80 percent of casualties were Vietnam War: 80 percent of casualties were

civilianscivilians• In current conflicts: 90 percent of casualties In current conflicts: 90 percent of casualties

are civiliansare civilians• (Source: Pettman, (Source: Pettman, Worlding WomenWorlding Women, p. 89), p. 89)

Women and War (II)Women and War (II)

Military Personnel (1):Military Personnel (1): • As of 1995, 22.4 million men and women As of 1995, 22.4 million men and women

remain under arms, of which, the developing remain under arms, of which, the developing countries take up 65 percent of the world totalcountries take up 65 percent of the world total

(Source: Sivard, (Source: Sivard, World Military and Social ExpendituresWorld Military and Social Expenditures, , 1996, p. 8)1996, p. 8)

• As of 1994, more than 500,000 women serving As of 1994, more than 500,000 women serving in the regular and irregular armed forces in the regular and irregular armed forces taking less than 10 percent of state militariestaking less than 10 percent of state militaries

(Source: Dan Smith, (Source: Dan Smith, The State of War and Peace The State of War and Peace AtlasAtlas, 1997, p. 64), 1997, p. 64)

Women and War (II)Women and War (II)　　 Military Personnel (2):Military Personnel (2):• Those countries having the highest rates if female Those countries having the highest rates if female

participation in their armed forces include the following:participation in their armed forces include the following: New Zealand (14%)---Australia (13%) --- The U.S. (12%)--- New Zealand (14%)---Australia (13%) --- The U.S. (12%)---

Canada (12%)---Russia (11%)Canada (12%)---Russia (11%)• Only seven countries allow women to engage in all combat Only seven countries allow women to engage in all combat

roles:roles: Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and and

SpainSpain• And only seven more allow women limited combat And only seven more allow women limited combat

experience:experience: The U.S., the U.K., Israel, Japan, France, Finland and The U.S., the U.K., Israel, Japan, France, Finland and

GhanaGhana(Source: Seager, (Source: Seager, The State of Women in the World AtlasThe State of Women in the World Atlas, pp. 92-93), pp. 92-93)

Women and War Women and War (III)(III)

Military ExpendituresMilitary Expenditures: : • Out of $125 billion in military expenditure Out of $125 billion in military expenditure

in developing countries, in developing countries, • ••4% would reduce adult illiteracy by half;4% would reduce adult illiteracy by half;• ••8% would provide basic family planning;8% would provide basic family planning;• ••12% would provide primary health care 12% would provide primary health care

for allfor all• (Source: (Source: Human Development ReportHuman Development Report, ,

1994, UNDP)1994, UNDP)

Women and War (IV)Women and War (IV)

Gender Differences in War Gender Differences in War PerceptionPerception::

• DateDate IssueIssue Percent Agree Percent Agree Men Men

WomenWomen• ’’39/0839/08 Go to war against GermanyGo to war against Germany 19 19 12 12• ‘‘40/1140/11 Take strong measures against JapanTake strong measures against Japan 56 56 42 42• ‘‘60/1060/10 Tougher policy towards RussiaTougher policy towards Russia 60 60 46 46• ‘‘61/1061/10 Fight all-out nuclear war ratherFight all-out nuclear war rather 87 87 75 75• than live under Communist rulethan live under Communist rule• ‘‘68/0468/04 Describe self as hawk, not doveDescribe self as hawk, not dove 50 50 32 32• on Vietnam (step up, not reduceon Vietnam (step up, not reduce• effort)effort)• ‘‘75/0475/04 Wars are necessary to settleWars are necessary to settle 55 55 38 38 • difference between nationsdifference between nations• (Sources: Smith, Tom W. 1984, “The Polls: Gender and Attitudes toward (Sources: Smith, Tom W. 1984, “The Polls: Gender and Attitudes toward

Violence,” Violence,” Public Opinion QuarterlyPublic Opinion Quarterly, 48: 384-96), 48: 384-96)

ConclusionConclusion• The Multiplicity of Women and WarThe Multiplicity of Women and War• The Feminist Theories & Women and The Feminist Theories & Women and

WarWar• Question and Answer SessionQuestion and Answer Session