2023.Oct.16

EVENTS

The 4th BAIRAL Research Meeting for 2023
“A Shift of Hegemonic Masculinity in the Postmodern Military”

◇BAIRAL（B’AI RA League）

BAIRAL is a study group by young research assistants (RA) of the B’AI Global Forum of the Institute for AI and Beyond at the University of Tokyo. Aiming to achieve gender equality and a guarantee of rights for minorities in the AI era, this study group examines relationships between digital information technology and society. BAIRAL organizes research meetings every other month with guest speakers in a variety of fields.

 

◇Date & Venue

・Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2023, 5:00-6:30 pm (JST)

・Venue: Zoom Meeting（No registration required）

https://u-tokyo-ac-jp.zoom.us/j/84070855544?pwd=UaHBQcSgXSlNhFdmILEBNmCjRtCQKc.1

Meeting ID: 840 7085 5544 / Passcode: 672655

・Language: Japanese

 

◇Guest Speaker

Remi Kodamaya (PhD Student, Graduate School of Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University)

 

◇Abstract

Military and gender are closely intertwined. Military forces have historically been associated with masculinity while devaluing and avoiding femininity, and this has been used to justify the use of military power.

The presenter examines the relationship between the military and masculinity in post-war Japanese society by analyzing how the Self-Defense Forces’ image has been constructed. In Japan, there has been limited theoretical development in military studies, especially in sociology, and discussions often reference debates in military sociology in the West.

A concept that has gained attention in recent years is that of the “post-modern military.” As the security environment changed after the end of the Cold War, the military’s role transformed significantly. The “post-modern military” increasingly engages in so-called military operations other than war, such as humanitarian aid, and crosses borders to assist “distant others.” In this evolving landscape of the military, questions arise about whether the traditional gendered hierarchy which associates masculinity with combat will change, making it a focal point in contemporary discussions on the military and gender.

There is a trend in military sociology to examine the Self-Defense Forces while relying on post-modern military theory. The Self-Defense Forces also operate in a complex gender dynamic, given their constitutional commitment to Article 9, which prohibits them from maintaining military forces.

In this presentation, the presenter will draw from discussions in English-speaking countries as a reference to analyze the situation of the Self-Defense Forces and examine the theme of gender in the context of the “post-modern military.” Additionally, the presenter intends to address the transformation of militarized masculinity due to technological advancements. In contemporary warfare, the importance of the cyber domain has increased, and the presentation will also consider the implications of such changes in how conflicts are waged.

 

◇Organizer

B’AI Global Forum, Institute for AI and Beyond at the University of Tokyo

 

◇Inquiry

Nozomi Ohtsuki (Research assistant of the B’AI Global Forum)
ohtsuki6nozomi[at]g.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp (Please change [at] to @)