Routledge Gender and the Military: Women in the Armed Forces of Western Democracies (Cass Military Studies)

This is the first comparative, cross-national study of the participation of women in the armed forces of NATO countries. Along side an analysis of this key topic stands a critique of existing theoretical models and the proposal of a revised analytical framework. Unlike previous works this new study employs mixed-methodological research design combining quantitative and qualitative data - a large N-analysis based on general policies and statistical information concerning every country in the sample with more in-depth case-studies. This volume includes original empirical data regarding the presence of women in the armed forces of NATO countries, proposes an index of ‘gender inclusiveness’ and assesses the factors that affect women’s military roles. The book also presents two new key case studies – Portugal and the Netherlands - based on both documentary sources and in-depth interviews of both men and women officers in the two countries. This book will be of great interest to all students and scholars of strategic studies, gender and women studies and military history. About the Author Helena Carreiras is professor at the department of sociology of the University Institute for Labor, Business and Technologies (ISCTE) and researcher at the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES) in Lisbon. Her research interests include armed forces and society, gender issues and methodology of the social sciences. She has published Mulheres nas Forças Armadas Portuguesas (Women in the Portuguese Armed Forces) (1997) and Mulheres em Armas. A Participação Militar Feminina na Europa do Sul (Women in Arms. The Military Participation of Women in Southern Europe) (2002).