The Masculine Military and Women’s Well-being: Using adaptive preference theory and recognition theory in the quest for feminist change
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2024-07-02
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en
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Abstract
The Dutch Department of Defence is struggling with the employment of more women, as currently
only 16% of the workforce is female. It is difficult for Departments of Defence to attract women, as
the institution is well-known to be a masculine institution. Women who are employed at the military,
often internalise these masculinities themselves, making it difficult for the institution to undergo
feminist changes. This research seeks to examine why women would internalise these norms, through
the theories of adaptive preferences and recognition. Adaptive preference theory offers a discussion
about agency, which informs strategies for change. The two theories of change that are prominent in
the literature are the liberal and the radical strategies for feminist progression. The aim is to unveil
which strategy for change is superior, based on arguments about feasibility and justice. Both
strategies are relevant in the quest for feminist change, but our insights on recognition theory present
us with two final conditions under which change cannot take place; misrecognition and ideological
recognition. Therefore, radical transformative strategies for change are the pathway to gender
equality.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen