On the battlefield : exploring gendered experiences of being Infantry in the New Zealand Army : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

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dc.confidentialEmbargo : No
dc.contributor.advisorGreener , Bethan
dc.contributor.authorBrosnan, Amy
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-03T02:05:13Z
dc.date.available2024-10-03T02:05:13Z
dc.date.issued2024-09-25
dc.description.abstractPrompted by the question ‘why aren’t there more women in combat trades?’, this research reaches beyond this to ask about the broader gendered context of the Infantry. Bringing in the experiences of both men and women, this thesis contributes a more nuanced understanding of the gendered issues at play by identifying what factors enable or inhibit success. As such, this thesis seeks to address a gap in knowledge that currently exists with respect to the experiences of men and women working together within a hypermasculine gender integrated combat-focused unit. It does so through the conduct of a qualitative study of soldiers enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) of the New Zealand Army (NZ Army). As this thesis will reveal, the production of ‘war-fighters’ is not an accidental or inevitable process. Infantry soldiers are socialised into certain ways of thinking and doing, and it is the performance of institutionalised habits, traditions and behaviours that makes an individual Infantry. The production of a war fighter is, therefore, a purposeful process of creating a particular type of Infantry soldier that is deemed to be most effective on the battlefield. What also becomes apparent in the course of this research, however, is that ‘success’ within Infantry is a complex concept; one which is underpinned by a specific gender performance, and which requires negotiation of a number of factors that extend beyond the professional realms of the ‘actual job’. Notwithstanding the need to produce ‘war-fighters’ this thesis argues that the way in which Infantry soldiers are produced within the NZ Army perpetuates a very specific masculine gendered ideology within the RNZIR. This ideology is based on both assumptions and understandings (and also misunderstandings) of gender, coupled with a battlefield narrative that inhibits the possibility of contesting the ‘status quo’. This thesis will illustrate that while some of the participants thrive within this context, others do not. Indeed, the gendered ideology which supports ‘the way things are done around here’ inhibits the participation (and retention) of many men and women, including men and women who exhibit the same qualities and attributes that are claimed to be necessary for Infantry success on the modern, or future, battlefield.
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71586
dc.publisherMassey University
dc.rights© The Author
dc.subjectNew Zealand
dc.subjectArmy
dc.subjectRoyal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
dc.subjectRecruiting, enlistment, etc
dc.subjectWomen in combat
dc.subjectWomen and the military
dc.subjectSex role in the work environment
dc.subjectArmed Forces
dc.subjectWomen
dc.subjectgender
dc.subjectmilitary
dc.subjectcombat
dc.subjectinfantry
dc.subjectsoldier
dc.subject.anzsrc440804 Defence studies
dc.subject.anzsrc441010 Sociology of gender
dc.titleOn the battlefield : exploring gendered experiences of being Infantry in the New Zealand Army : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
thesis.degree.disciplineDefence and Security Studies
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy
thesis.description.doctoral-citation-abridgedAmy Brosnan, an Officer in the NZ Army, conducted a qualitative study into the experience of being Infantry and the way that gender may influence this experience. In doing so she has created knowledge of how socially constructed ideas of being a man or a woman intersects with institutional assumptions, habits and practices of being Infantry.
thesis.description.doctoral-citation-longAmy Brosnan, an Officer in the NZ Army, conducted a qualitative study into the experience of being Infantry and the way that gender may influence this experience. In doing so she has created knowledge of how socially constructed ideas of being a man or a woman intersects with institutional assumptions, habits and practices of being Infantry. Her research illustrates that gendered ideology which supports 'the way things are done around here' inhibits the participation of many men and women. This includes men and women who exhibit the same qualities and attributes claimed to be necessary for Infantry success on the modern or future battlefield.
thesis.description.name-pronounciationA MEE BROS NAN
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