Citation

Zurbriggen EL. Fem. Psychol. 2008; 18(3): 301-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0959353508092083

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A feminist analysis of the torture of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib illuminates aspects of the abuses that have not been previously considered. Social psychological studies that emphasize the importance of a (degendered) 'power of the situation' in determining behaviour have not adequately considered the effects of masculine socialization. The sexualized nature of the abuses at Abu Ghraib was centred on feminization of the prisoners and was an enactment of misogyny and homophobia. Rather than minimizing the harmfulness of the Abu Ghraib abuses, comparisons of them with fraternity hazings and pornography suggest that hazing and pornography are harmful. Finally, prevention of future abuses will be difficult because of the fundamental contradiction in socializing soldiers to kill, yet expecting them to feel empathy for the enemy.