Short Post 4/19

Enloe’s chapter on men in militias shows the way in which the constructions of masculinity can affect the creations of femininity. I know that other readings in this class have discussed the importance of including men in the battle to end the oppression of women, but I believe that Enloe added to this argument in important ways. It not simply about men raising their voices in support, it is also critical to look at the ways that men are treated by each other. At one point in the chapter Enloe’s discussed a study of the men in Police Battalion 101, who were sent on killing assignments and were offered a non-killing option. He learned that the men who took the non killing option worried most about losing masculine respect and friendships. Rather than saying that they did not want to kill they stated that they were too weak, which interestingly implies that there is something wrong with them rather than the other way around. Men in militias are trained in a way all it takes is social pressures from their male comrades to inspire them to commit acts that they normally would not. I think that this is especially prevalent in a militia setting because one must depend so intensely on their friends. If your friends in your militia do not have your back your own life is at risk. One thing that is especially concerning is the way in which degrading women is so often a way to prove one masculinity. This reminds me “Against Our Will” essay by Brownmiller which talks about the way that rape can be seen as the ultimate act of masculinity. Since militias are so masculinized it makes sense that they often turn to rape in order bond and establish a power order within the group. This is seen in the actions of the American aircraft carrier pilots who had a competition of stripping women of their clothing in hotel hallways. The women are no longer seen as humans or even as sex objects, but rather as a means to prove one’s devotion to their friends and their right to be a man. This mentality that is seen in these men is vaguely reminiscent of the mentality that fraternities often seem to have towards women. In these organizations there often seems to be a feeling of bonding over treating women badly. There is a dichotomy that is created in which men elevate themselves by lowering women therefore feeding into the superiority of men.