Feminist scholars have mapped the connections between militarised masculinities, the quest for dominance in international relations, and nuclear weapons.
“In “Feminist Solution: Abolish nuclear weapons” – a piece prepared for ‘Feminist Solutions for Ending War’ edited by Megan Mackenzie– Rae Acheson writes:
“Nuclear-armed states seek to discredit those who demand the abolition of nuclear weapons. Proponents of nuclear weapons seek to use a logic of rationalism and power to defend their possession of these weapons whilst seeking to “feminise” opponents of nuclear weapons by claiming they are emotional and irrational. This discourse that presents anti-bomb activists as “emotional” ignores the effects that nuclear weapons inflict and denies individuals from expressing their concerns about these genocidal tools. This is a form of gaslighting – insist that these weapons are a source of security and accuse anyone who thinks otherwise as being emotional, overwrought, irrational, or impractical.
“Those who determine what is considered realistic, practical, and feasible are men and women of incredible privilege; elites of their own societies and in the global community—such as politicians, government personnel, military commanders, and “national security” practitioners and academics. This field often ignores people affected by nuclear weapons development, testing, stockpiling, use, or threatened use. The common narrative is that nuclear weapons are required in a world where there will always be those who want to retain or develop the capacity to wield massive, unfathomable levels of violence over others. Elites who possess nuclear weapons argue they are “rational” actors who must retain nuclear weapons for protection against irrational others.”
Ray Acheson is the Director of Reaching Critical Will, the disarmament programme of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).