Bein i nesa : en antropologisk studie av kjønnsproblematikk på minesveiperen KNM Otra

Stortingsmelding nr. 36 (2006–2007) [1] emphasises the need for increased female quota in the Norwegian Armed Forces. On commission from the Department of Defence, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) will do an age differentiated recruitment and retention study in the Defence organisation. During the spring 2009, an anthropological fieldwork was conducted onboard the minesweeper KNM Otra, where the objective was to gain knowledge and insight about the feelings, opinions, thoughts and perceptions held by the military personnel when it comes to being and working with women in the military. The purpose of the study was also to document, as wide as possible, the attitudes which exist among military personnel, including both genders and different ranks.

The expression “to have bone in your nose”1 was frequently repeated as a necessary quality for women in the military. Hence, it requires a strong character for women to be working in a male dominated environment, but the understanding of how much it takes, and what can be demanded of you is comprehended individually and very differently. It is repeatedly debated as to what extent it is useful and acceptable to apply fixing of quotas for women into different studies and positions, and myths flourish within the defence community. This is unfortunate, since a number of men presume that women are less qualified for the same positions on the basis of being preferred on the foundation of their gender, not their qualifications. Several women express having to work harder than men to prove that they are just as skilful and capable, and therein lays a contradiction which should be made visible and then eliminated.

To increase the female quota in the Armed Forces, it is of the uttermost importance to explain why. To many it seems meaningless and appears as a political objective only. To succeed, it is crucial to communicate the reason why it is important to recruit more women to the military. If the rationale is that women possess other qualifications and capacities than men, this has to be thoroughly stressed, however in such a way that it does not diminish men and their qualities. It is important to underline the complementarity of female and male qualities instead of emphasising a competitive element between them.

1. Can be translated into "having guts", "being tough", "strong character".