Security and Defense Studies Review 2010 Fall ... - Offnews.info

military and the hardships as well as the opportunities the role creates for thesewomen. Since women have only been allowed to enter all military positions inCanada since 2002, research on them is scarce, making this article a valuable one inthe world of military research. Petite offers a well-researched and well-explainedthesis to those interested in the role of women in the military.33. Ramírez, Mario Elkin. (2002) “Las Mujeres y la Guerra.” Psicología desde el Caribe, No. 9,89-124. (http://rcientificas.uninorte.edu.co/index.php/psicologia/article/view/1011).This article speaks about many of the psychological aspects of war for women.The author first attempts to unravel a common misunderstanding, which is onethat sees a woman interchangeably with motherhood. Today women have theoption, through contraceptives, to get pregnant or not. Many women in guerrillaorganizations reported having joined because they were initially running away fromsexual abuse and violence in their households; the revolution gave them a focus andempowered them beyond their subordinate stay-at-home roles. They soon realizedthat the guerrilla was the same in the sense that high-ranking officials would abusetheir power and pressure women into sex, yet the only difference was that therewas no support group to help curb the high levels of machismo. This article waswell articulated and shows that the military, as an institution, has a responsibilityto incorporate women and explains why guerrilla groups have high rates of humanrights violations.34. Reif, L.L. (1986) “Women in Latin American Guerrilla Movements.” Comparative Politics,18, 147-169.The article explores three questions concerning women’s role in guerrilla movements:what factors prevent women from participating, what classes face the least barriers toparticipation, and what roles do women perform? Through Reif’s extensive researchfor the article, the reader is able to gather useful information to answer the mainquestions facing women’s participation in guerrilla movements with an unbiasedtone.35. Riley, Kathryn A., and White, Judy. (1994) “Pathways to Leadership: Issues for Women ChiefExecutives.” Public Money and ManagementWhen this study was conducted 15 of the 404 chief executive positions in localauthorities in England were held by women. This article examines the pathways toleadership, motivation, obstacles, opportunities, and expectations of these women,and how their leadership affected the country. The article does not include muchdetail yet does support the claim that women should have equal opportunity.36. Sandhoff, M.; M.W. Segal, and D.R. Segal. “Gender Issues in the Transformation to anAll-Volunteer Force: A Transnational Perspective.” (http://www.deomi.org/EOEEOResources/documents/Gender_Issues-Sandhoff_Segal.pdf).The authors describe the way a conscription-based military affects the role of womenin the military, and examines the impact of abolishing conscription on 16 countries.By bypassing the examination of the wartime/peacetime pattern that is usually usedto understand women’s participation in the military, and focusing instead on a partof military structure that is rarely looked at in terms of women’s participation, thearticle is a useful tool for future research.Security and Defense Studies Review 2010 Fall-Winter Issue / Edicíón Otoño-Invierno 2010 / Edicão Outono-Inverno 2010 / Volume 11 187