In this presentation, Megan MacKenzie will draw out the key contributions of her recent book, Good Soldiers Don't Rape (Cambridge University Press), which focuses on sexual violence within defence forces. The book uses feminist theories of 'rape culture' and institutional gaslighting to identify the key stories, myths, and misconceptions about military sexual violence that have obstructed addressing and preventing it. It includes an analysis of nearly thirty years of media coverage of military sexual violence in three case countries – the US, Canada and Australia. MacKenzie will relate her book to the recent scandals and high profile cases of sexual misconduct that have plagued the Canadian Forces over the past three years.

*A light lunch will be served, registration for this Event is not required.

Biography:

Megan MacKenzie is a feminist scholar interested in war, security studies, post-conflict recovery and reconstruction, and military culture. Her work is broadly focused on the ways that gender matters in understanding war and insecurity and the ways that experiences of war and insecurity are shaped by gendered norms and sexism.

Megan has been studying military culture and gender integration in the military for over a decade, which includes projects on military sexual violence, the integration of women into combat roles, and military suicide. She also has worked on issues related to post-conflict transitions and feminist solutions to ending war. This work includes projects on disarmament programs, amnesty provisions in peace agreements, truth and reconciliation commissions, and a series and edited book on feminist solutions to ending war. Megan is also involved in a research hub on images and international relations, based at the University of Copenhagen.

Megan’s research has been funded by the Australian Research Council, the Independent Research Fund Denmark, and the Sydney Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Centre. She held a fellowship at the Belfer Centre Center for Science and International Affairs and the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.