Workshop Summary: Women in a Militarized Society – August 24, 2007

WRI New Profile International Seminar
Neve Shalom August 2007

Facilitators: Hanna Aviram and Ruth Hiller (New Profile)

Number of Participants – 16 (10 Israeli, 6 Internationals from USA, Australia, Switzerland, Holland and So. Africa) Two of the participants were males. Ages ranged between 17.5 and 70+.
Methods and Resources used included an introduction round and open discussion generated by focused questions. Selected samples from New Profile’s roving exhibit (Shimrit-Baking Yeast, Lodzia Underwear, Maccabi Beer, Bazooka Chewing Gum) were presented and free associative discussion was encouraged.

The workshop was held following 2 separate panel sessions in the plenary that focused on the position and function of women in militarized society. Therefore we felt that it was appropriate to provide the participants to share from their personal experiences as women or as men who recognize militarism within their society in their countries. Most of the participants were able to identify at least one instance of militarization in their society and share with the group.
The younger women within the group spoke of visible and hidden social sanctions that are forced onto women who have aspirations that exceed accepted gender divisions. The older women spoke of the position of women in society as mothers in militarized society.

In addition, also discussed at length was the correlation between sexism and sexual violence towards women and militarism.

Another issue that arose during the workshop was if there is there justification to apply pressure or use authority to prevent a child from complying conscription or enlisting into the military. This issue lead to a discussion on what manner women can express there refusal to cooperate with militarism.

The closing question allowed each participant to present what she or he would take from the workshop as a point for reflection and/or better comprehension.

Following the workshop we were approached by one young woman who stated that the workshop provided her with new insights regarding militarization and conscription and her deliberations regarding conscription into the Israeli military.