How Can Conscription Affect Gender Equality? Evidence from Quasi-experiments

• In Event: Poster Session: Gender and Comparative and International Politics & International Relations Theory
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Gender and Comparative and International Politics

Abstract

As a state-mandated enlistment of people in military service, conscription is also adopted by many countries during peacetime. This study examines how conscription affects gender equality. Historically, the armed forces have been critiqued as hierarchical and male-dominated institutions, often promoting a destructive power dynamic. The conscription system, in this context, not only reinforces citizens’ loyalty to sovereignty and political regimes but also plays a significant role in shaping gender roles. We argue that conscription might discourage women’s empowerment in political spheres while simultaneously encouraging it in socioeconomic domains. The conscription system often positions men in a central role in political development, potentially inhibiting women’s motivation to engage in political activities. Conversely, the absence of men in socioeconomic fields during their military service can inadvertently create more opportunities for women to emerge as influential figures in these areas. The study attempts to conduct two quasi-experiments: Firstly, using Germany’s end of conscription in 2011 as a case study, the author examines whether gender equality in Germany has been influenced by the termination of conscription. Secondly, considering Israel, where conscription is compulsory for both men and women as a treatment group, and South Korea, where military service only requires male citizens, as a control group, the study investigates whether conscripting women would facilitate women’s empowerment, particularly in political engagement.

Author

• Lumin Fang, China Agricultural University