Abstracts Womens Studies

'They Are More Afraid of Losing Women Than of Having Women'

by Mimmi Granat

When interviewing female conscripts, Emma Lindgren Lauritzon (2012) found that they perceived their basic military training in the Swedish Armed Forces as a negative experience. The women felt that the environment was hostile and that they served on the conditions of men. This is especially alarming since the unequal conscription was replaced by voluntary service for all in 2010, making the Swedish defence dependent on attracting the whole population to fill up its necessary positions. Therefore, this thesis examines how female recruits experience the new basic military training and if the structural transformation, with a more gender equal entrance, has had an impact on the individual level. Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted, designed and presented by a deductive thematic analysis, and later interpreted through feministic and gender organizational theories. The results indicate a positive development in their experiences, and more so – a new development of the women feeling especially wanted and needed. This perceived dependency on women is arguably in the risk of backfiring, generating guilt if they disappoint the organisation. This study gives vital insight to the organisation in question, the Swedish Armed Forces, and also several new and interesting aspects to build future research on regarding women in the military.