The struggle over military identity: a multi-sited ethnography on gender, fitness and "the right attitudes" in the military profession/field

Abstract

As a result of dramatic changes in the arrangement and missions of the Norwegian Armed Forces, and consequently in competence, gender and identity politics, traditional thinking on what are considered to be valuable persons, skills, abilities and bodily characteristics is being challenged. Yet, what is challenged by some may be guarded by others. As such, a social struggle over what kind of skills and characteristics should be required from military personnel, and who should be allowed in the military profession has been observed. This dissertation investigates what is at stake in the struggles over who can take part in the military profession/field. This investigation is both important and necessary in order to understand how both men and women experience and perceive their own and others’ value in the organization, and to which interests the activities and struggles of different agents contribute.