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Kan kvinnor kriga? En komparativ bildanalys av Natos och Försvarsmaktens porträttering av kvinnliga soldater på Instagram.

Bachman, Sofia LU (2024) FKVK02 20241
Department of Political Science
Abstract (Swedish)
This thesis examines gendered constructions of military women, through the portrayal of female soldiers in images published on social media by Nato and the Swedish armed forces(SAF). Specifically, the data is made up of images that have been published after Sweden’s appeal to become a Nato member. This case is approached through critical feminist theory, particularly through the lens of Megan MacKenzie and Keshab Giri, who argue that the experiences of women within the military neither can nor should be viewed simply as a dichotomy where female soldiers are either emancipated or oppressed through their military participation. The study features a comparative analysis between Nato and the SAF. Both a
quantitative content analysis and a... (More)
This thesis examines gendered constructions of military women, through the portrayal of female soldiers in images published on social media by Nato and the Swedish armed forces(SAF). Specifically, the data is made up of images that have been published after Sweden’s appeal to become a Nato member. This case is approached through critical feminist theory, particularly through the lens of Megan MacKenzie and Keshab Giri, who argue that the experiences of women within the military neither can nor should be viewed simply as a dichotomy where female soldiers are either emancipated or oppressed through their military participation. The study features a comparative analysis between Nato and the SAF. Both a
quantitative content analysis and a qualitative, semiotic image analysis have been conducted. The thesis concludes that there are significant similarities between the ways that Nato and the SAF portray female soldiers. A majority of the women are seen without a weapon, and with a facial expression that is either smiling or neutral – and apart from one exception, never aggressive. Additionally, the analysis shows that the image of the typical female soldier is most often that of a white woman – hence it is suggested that the way that female soldiers are
portrayed in images is linked to heteronormative and racialised notions of which women that fit where within the military. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Bachman, Sofia LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20241
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Gender, Nato, the Swedish armed forces, military images, female soldiers
language
Swedish
id
9153960
date added to LUP
2024-07-18 14:04:26
date last changed
2024-07-18 14:04:26
@misc{9153960,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines gendered constructions of military women, through the portrayal of female soldiers in images published on social media by Nato and the Swedish armed forces(SAF). Specifically, the data is made up of images that have been published after Sweden’s appeal to become a Nato member. This case is approached through critical feminist theory, particularly through the lens of Megan MacKenzie and Keshab Giri, who argue that the experiences of women within the military neither can nor should be viewed simply as a dichotomy where female soldiers are either emancipated or oppressed through their military participation. The study features a comparative analysis between Nato and the SAF. Both a 
quantitative content analysis and a qualitative, semiotic image analysis have been conducted. The thesis concludes that there are significant similarities between the ways that Nato and the SAF portray female soldiers. A majority of the women are seen without a weapon, and with a facial expression that is either smiling or neutral – and apart from one exception, never aggressive. Additionally, the analysis shows that the image of the typical female soldier is most often that of a white woman – hence it is suggested that the way that female soldiers are 
portrayed in images is linked to heteronormative and racialised notions of which women that fit where within the military.}},
  author       = {{Bachman, Sofia}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Kan kvinnor kriga? En komparativ bildanalys av Natos och Försvarsmaktens porträttering av kvinnliga soldater på Instagram.}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}