“When I was growing up, military training was obligatory in schools. As a 13 year old, I was able to assemble and disassemble a Kalashnikov blindfolded.”

As we delve into the complex world of militarised masculinities, hear the remarkable and powerful stories of three feminist peace activists, each working to dismantle the patriarchy.

In this episode we discuss why masculinity is so often intertwined with ideals of violence, power and control. How militarised masculinities have invaded every aspect of our lives. Why we must challenge the notion that this link between violence and manhood is inevitable. And how men can be allies to women and effectively feed into the feminist movement.

Our guests are:

Laila Alodaat, Deputy Secretary General at Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

Oswaldo Montoya, a life-long advocate for gender equality, children’s rights and non-violence and one of the founders of the Men's Group against Violence in Managua, Nicaragua. Currently with MenEngage Alliance.

David Duriesmith, a widely published pro-feminist activist and lecturer in Gender and Politics at The University of Sheffield

Your hosts are:

Dean Peacock, Project Director of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's initiative on men and militarism

Reem Abbas, Communications Coordinator for the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Programme.

Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace is a podcast from WILPF, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, in which we uncover the transformative power of feminist peace and explore how men can be active proponents of achieving gender equality and peace. For more resources and information, visit wilpf.org and the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace project page here.

You can listen to the Think & Resist podcast here.