Examining Militarized Masculinity, Violence and Conflict: Male Survivors of Torture in International Politics
| Author | Sanjukta Nath |
| DOI | 10.1177/00208817221085446 |
| Published date | 01 January 2022 |
| Date | 01 January 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Research Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/00208817221085446
International Studies
59 (1) 43 –57, 2022
© 2022 Jawaharlal Nehru University
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DOI: 10.1177/00208817221085446
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Research Article
Examining Militarized
Masculinity, Violence
and Conflict:
Male Survivors of
Torture in
International Politics
Sanjukta Nath1
Abstract
The article analyses how masculine social norms shape the idea of survivors/
victims in International Politics. It will conceptually analyse how masculine social
norms have been normalised through militarism and militarized masculinity in
international politics. In this process, it will locate how international politics
has conceived male survivors of sexualised torture. It will use a gender lens in
understanding the discourse and practice of torture in armed conflicts. It argues
that there exists a gender-based binary in the way victimhood in conflict situations
has been perceived in international politics where victims are generally seen to
be women and the perpetrators are men. It uses a critical feminist perspective
in problematizing the essentialist gender-based binary between victims and
perpetrators of violence particularly sexual and gender-based violence. There
exists silence in international politics in the ways that male victims of sexualised
torture during conflict situations have been perceived in international politics. This
silence reflects the power of social construction of masculinity in international
politics. The silence is manifested in the way sexual and gender-based violence on
men and boys in conflict situations have been often seen under the broad rubrics
of torture which overlooks the sexual harm involved in the practice.
Keywords
Gender and victimhood, international politics, male victims, sexualized torture,
torture, violence and conflict
1 Diplomacy and Disarmament Division (DAD), Centre for International Politics, Organization and
Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Corresponding author:
Sanjukta Nath, House No-125, First Floor, Uday Park, South Extension II, New Delhi, Delhi
110049, India.
E-mail: nath.sanjukta256@gmail.com
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