The subject of war and its effects on gender roles has been widely studied by historians, sociologists, anthropologists, psychologists, biologists, economists, political scientists, philosophers, and literary critics, among others. This research has examined a variety of topics related to warfare such as combat motivation, post-traumatic stress disorder, military masculinity, the relationship between violence and nationalism, and how militaries can promote peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Less attention, however, has been paid to the way wartime influences soldiers' intimate needs. How do soldiers express or repress their desire for physical and emotional closeness under conditions of extreme danger? What are the norms that guide these behaviors? In this article, I will explore the history of soldierly intimacies before discussing how these norms have changed during times of conflict.
The History of Intimacy Among Soldiers
Since the dawn of humanity, people who went off to war were able to form emotional bonds with other men while away from home. These relationships ranged from close friendships based on shared experiences in battle to more erotic liaisons involving sexual encounters.
In ancient Greece, male friends often formed strong connections known as pederasty where they engaged in romantic and sexual activities together. Similarly, in Rome, many men had sex with other males even though it was considered shameful. During the Crusades, knights slept with each other due to a lack of women. Some Japanese samurai also had homosexual relationships called shudo. As you can see, there is evidence that suggests that intimate relations among soldiers may be rooted in the very nature of war itself.
Wartime Gender Norms
In most cases, gender roles change dramatically when soldiers go into combat. Men begin to adopt masculine traits such as bravery, strength, stoicism, and leadership to survive in a hostile environment. They also learn to suppress any feelings of vulnerability or weakness since being perceived as soft might result in death. This masculinization process has been observed in multiple cultures throughout history.
Native Americans who lived in small communities prior to colonization were forced to take up arms against European invaders, which led them to adopt new ideas about manhood, including violence and physical prowess. In modern times, American soldiers have expressed similar changes after fighting overseas during World War II, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
How do wartime gender norms influence how soldiers express or repress intimate needs?
In wartime, traditional gender norms often emphasize the need for men to be strong and self-reliant while deemphasizing their emotions. These expectations can lead them to suppress feelings of fear, anxiety, and vulnerability that might arise during combat. This suppression can manifest itself through behavioral patterns such as aggression, anger, and hypermasculinity.