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Globalization and Militarism: Feminists Make the Link
Militarism is being globalized today, not only because weapons are being traded worldwide, but because certain ideas about 'femininity' and 'masculinity' are being promoted and absorbed globally. Who is presumed to be the 'protector?' Who is taught to be grateful to be the 'protected?' Written by one of the world's leading feminist scholars, this masterful and provocative book considers how women's desires to be patriotic yet feminine and men's fears of being feminized have been exploited to globalize militarism_and thus what it will take to roll back militarization anywhere. Through explorations of how governments think so narrowly about 'national security,' of how postwar reconstruction efforts have marginalized women, of how ideas about feminization were used to humiliate male prisoners in Abu Ghraib, and of why 'camo' has become a fashion statement, Cynthia Enloe unravels militarism's both blatant and subtle workings. Focusing her lens on the 'big picture' of international politics and on the small picture of women's and men's complex everyday lives, Enloe challenges us to recognize militarism in all its forms.
200 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Cynthia Enloe
43 books120 followersCynthia Holden Enloe is a feminist writer, theorist, and professor.
She is best known for her work on gender and militarism and for her contributions to the field of feminist international relations. She has done pioneering feminist research into international politics and political economy, and has considerable contribution to building a more inclusive feminist scholarly community.
Cynthia Enloe was born in New York, New York and grew up in Manhasset, Long Island, a New York suburb. Her father was from Missouri and went to medical school in Germany from 1933 to 1936. Her mother went to Mills College and married Cynthia's father upon graduation.
After completing her undergraduate education at Connecticut College in 1960, she went on to earn an M.A. in 1963 and a Ph.D. in 1967 in political science at the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkely, Enloe was the first woman ever to be a Head TA for Aaron Wildavsky, then an up-and-coming star in the field of American Politics.
Enloe states that she has been influenced by many other feminists who use an ethnographic approach, specifically, Seung-Kyung Kim’s (1997) work on South Korean women factory workers during the pro-democracy campaign and Anne Allison’s (1994) work on observing corporate businessmen’s interactions with hostesses in a Tokyo drinking club. Enloe has also listed Diane Singerman, Purnima Mankekar, and Cathy Lutz as people who have inspired and influenced her work.
She is best known for her work on gender and militarism and for her contributions to the field of feminist international relations. She has done pioneering feminist research into international politics and political economy, and has considerable contribution to building a more inclusive feminist scholarly community.
Cynthia Enloe was born in New York, New York and grew up in Manhasset, Long Island, a New York suburb. Her father was from Missouri and went to medical school in Germany from 1933 to 1936. Her mother went to Mills College and married Cynthia's father upon graduation.
After completing her undergraduate education at Connecticut College in 1960, she went on to earn an M.A. in 1963 and a Ph.D. in 1967 in political science at the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkely, Enloe was the first woman ever to be a Head TA for Aaron Wildavsky, then an up-and-coming star in the field of American Politics.
Enloe states that she has been influenced by many other feminists who use an ethnographic approach, specifically, Seung-Kyung Kim’s (1997) work on South Korean women factory workers during the pro-democracy campaign and Anne Allison’s (1994) work on observing corporate businessmen’s interactions with hostesses in a Tokyo drinking club. Enloe has also listed Diane Singerman, Purnima Mankekar, and Cathy Lutz as people who have inspired and influenced her work.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 3, 2021
Cynthia Enloen feministinen analyysi kutittaa mun aivoja just oikeella tavalla. Globalization and militarism oli yllättävän helppolukunen teos militarismin feministisestä kritiikistä ja Enloe keskustelee lukijan kanssa kirjan edetessä. Tää teos on aika vanha, ja se näkyy, mutta perusajatukset toimii nykyäänkin. (Piti lukee yks luku koulutyötä varten mut luinkin koko kirjan huh)
December 10, 2013
An amazing piece of work that I highly recommend. The arthur makes good points and relevant observations on both the topics mentioned in the title. Don't be scared off by the term "feminists". This is not a book that calls all men pigs and rages for a female revolution where women take over and oppress the men. It is feminism in the sense of equality, it is an intellectual discussion on globalization and militarism and how that is relevant. Give it a go. It was one of my books for a course at University and I still own it, rather than having sold it, because it is a very striking piece of literature and I intend to re-read it in the future.
October 9, 2008
It is obvious that this book is written for undergraduates. Which is obviously fine, just a bit disappointing considering what a book on the topic of militarization written from a feminist perspective could be.
April 21, 2022
I had to add a new shelf (Militarism-Feminism) because no other labels really caught the theme of this brilliant book about the link that feminists have made about the connection between globalism and militarism.
Author, Cynthia Enloe, states early on in the book that it is important to ask the feminist questions to open up issues that are fraught with problems that are not being dealt with. One of the questions of importance is "How are women affected by XX?" and, even more basic, "Where are the women?"
When reading the sections about how the Military has done a disservice to women (putting the 'atmosphere of abuse' in its mildest form) I also did some research into women engaged with the Military in Canada. I was shocked and disgusted to find that there was a backlog of 13,000+ sexual misconduct cases awaiting resolution. I see nothing about the progress that was promised (prior to Corona Virus).
I live in a community where there is an active military base. I will be making observations with a new set of eyes around "militarization" of our community. I have already picked out the fact that our local Mall does occasional big displays to promote signing up for a tour. I realize that the Military is a large employer, but I haven't seen the local hospital or any of the school systems displaying blatant campaigns for recruitment for employees in the Mall. This is an example of militarization. Subtle, but truly "a thing".
I recommend this book to anyone who is concerned by the prevalence of violence and aggression in the world, the community, and the home. The links to that violence are spelled out in this book along with some inspiring suggestions of how to become a peace keeper. And so much more-- a great read and think!
Author, Cynthia Enloe, states early on in the book that it is important to ask the feminist questions to open up issues that are fraught with problems that are not being dealt with. One of the questions of importance is "How are women affected by XX?" and, even more basic, "Where are the women?"
When reading the sections about how the Military has done a disservice to women (putting the 'atmosphere of abuse' in its mildest form) I also did some research into women engaged with the Military in Canada. I was shocked and disgusted to find that there was a backlog of 13,000+ sexual misconduct cases awaiting resolution. I see nothing about the progress that was promised (prior to Corona Virus).
I live in a community where there is an active military base. I will be making observations with a new set of eyes around "militarization" of our community. I have already picked out the fact that our local Mall does occasional big displays to promote signing up for a tour. I realize that the Military is a large employer, but I haven't seen the local hospital or any of the school systems displaying blatant campaigns for recruitment for employees in the Mall. This is an example of militarization. Subtle, but truly "a thing".
I recommend this book to anyone who is concerned by the prevalence of violence and aggression in the world, the community, and the home. The links to that violence are spelled out in this book along with some inspiring suggestions of how to become a peace keeper. And so much more-- a great read and think!
August 22, 2020
This was such a great read. Enloe is clear, articulate, and really thoughtful. She manages to explain and convey really complex topics in a simple way, and brings the attention of the reader closer to the ideas and reflections; and this is what a good non-fiction piece is for me.
In this work, Enloe starts by explaining that if one wants to better understand the work of the feminist, one needs to differentiate between notions of "masculine" and "feminine", and "masculinization" and "feminization". Masculine and feminine are constructs (social, philosophical, ideological, and cultural), whereas masculinization and feminization are process, carried by the same structures (cultural, economic, and so on). This is only with that understanding that one can slowly interrogate and unravel the ways in which notions of masculine and feminine are present in our societies.
Drawing for her experience, testimonies, and research, Enloe unravels the towering complexity of those notions, as they are, more than "simple" gendered-binaries, the mirror of a variety of institutions (whether public or private). The book offers tools and examples to carry that feminist work that she speaks of, and ways to decipher the inner workings of masculinization and feminization.
Each chapter is focused on one theme yet linked by overarching narratives (globalization and militarization), and in each, Enloe skillfully questions and deconstructs the nefarious consequences of "masculinized" policies and decisions.
Although not well versed in feminist literature, but avid reader of geopolitics, I was pleasantly surprised by everything that I have learned.
Highly recommended book.
In this work, Enloe starts by explaining that if one wants to better understand the work of the feminist, one needs to differentiate between notions of "masculine" and "feminine", and "masculinization" and "feminization". Masculine and feminine are constructs (social, philosophical, ideological, and cultural), whereas masculinization and feminization are process, carried by the same structures (cultural, economic, and so on). This is only with that understanding that one can slowly interrogate and unravel the ways in which notions of masculine and feminine are present in our societies.
Drawing for her experience, testimonies, and research, Enloe unravels the towering complexity of those notions, as they are, more than "simple" gendered-binaries, the mirror of a variety of institutions (whether public or private). The book offers tools and examples to carry that feminist work that she speaks of, and ways to decipher the inner workings of masculinization and feminization.
Each chapter is focused on one theme yet linked by overarching narratives (globalization and militarization), and in each, Enloe skillfully questions and deconstructs the nefarious consequences of "masculinized" policies and decisions.
Although not well versed in feminist literature, but avid reader of geopolitics, I was pleasantly surprised by everything that I have learned.
Highly recommended book.
February 18, 2020
An accessible and interesting introduction to the topic. Several references included for future investigation
March 10, 2008
Cynthia Enloe is a tower of global feminisms and does not disappoint in this book that slowly and clearly reveals the deep links between globalization, militarism, and masculinity. Enloe is a good introduction to this sort of feminism for her easy-to-read style, uncomplicated logic, and plentiful evidence.
She doesn't go many places that Bananas, Beaches, and Bases didn't go 25 years ago, but this functions as a nice update on that work with slightly more focus on the wealthy-industrialized states as opposed to the low-income-producer states. May be useful in the future.
She doesn't go many places that Bananas, Beaches, and Bases didn't go 25 years ago, but this functions as a nice update on that work with slightly more focus on the wealthy-industrialized states as opposed to the low-income-producer states. May be useful in the future.
March 22, 2010
Read this for an Anthropology of Globalization class. Enloe presents some really eye opening information for those of us who are just beginning to explore globalization. The feminist perspective she applies here adds an even greater dimension to the material she deals with. One of the more enjoyable required texts I've had to read.
July 17, 2011
A great introduction to the links between globalization, militarism, and masculinization.
Read
February 6, 2013Reviewed here.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews