Short answer
Consider the underlying societal values and 'gender orders' that might influence user perception and adoption of designs, especially in cross-cultural or politically charged contexts.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- European Security (2023)
- Method
- Discourse analysis and theoretical framing
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Geopolitical conflicts can be strategically framed and waged around the design of gender roles and societal norms, impacting security and international relations. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in European Security. Using Discourse analysis and theoretical framing, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Consider the underlying societal values and 'gender orders' that might influence user perception and adoption of designs, especially in cross-cultural or politically charged contexts.
Gender as a Strategic Design Element in Geopolitical Conflict
Geopolitical conflicts can be strategically framed and waged around the design of gender roles and societal norms, impacting security and international relations.
European Security · 2023
Key Findings
- 01The Russian invasion of Ukraine is explicitly framed as a war for 'traditional values' against gender and sexual equalities.
- 02Russia constructs its neo-traditionalist narrative by positioning Europe as a decadent 'Other', creating a circular process of reinforced traditionalism.
- 03These gendered discourses have tangible consequences, with the Russian illiberal gender order justifying and enabling military action.
- 04Ukraine's resistance is characterized by hybridised, emancipatory discourses and practices that play a fundamental role in its defense.
Application
Design takeaway
Consider the underlying societal values and 'gender orders' that might influence user perception and adoption of designs, especially in cross-cultural or politically charged contexts.
How to apply
When designing for international markets or in regions with strong cultural or political divides, research the dominant and emerging narratives around gender and societal values to ensure design resonance and avoid unintended negative impacts.
Project actions
- 01When researching a product or service, consider how it might align with or challenge existing societal norms around gender.
- 02Analyze how marketing or communication campaigns for a product might be perceived through the lens of different gender orders.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a novel framework for understanding conflict through the lens of gender design.
- +Connects abstract theoretical concepts to real-world geopolitical events.
Limitations
It can be challenging to directly measure the 'impact' of gender order on a specific design without extensive qualitative research or user studies.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the findings relies heavily on the interpretation of discourse and theoretical frameworks, which can be subjective. Reliability would depend on consistent application of analytical methods across different texts.
Think critically
How can designers proactively design for societal progress and inclusivity, rather than inadvertently reinforcing harmful or outdated societal structures?
Design Principles
"Design interventions should be sensitive to and critically analyze the prevailing and contested societal norms within their target context."
Understanding how gender order is 'designed' and weaponized in conflicts offers critical insights for designers and researchers. It highlights how deeply ingrained societal values can be manipulated as a tool of influence and aggression, impacting product development, communication strategies, and the ethical considerations within design practice.
What This Means for Your Design
This research shows that wars can be fought not just over land, but also over ideas about how men and women should live and behave. Russia is using 'traditional values' as a reason to invade Ukraine, while Ukraine's fight includes ideas of equality.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the importance of understanding societal context and values in your design process, particularly when exploring sensitive topics or international applications.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by Kratochvíl and O’Sullivan (2023) demonstrates that societal norms, particularly those surrounding gender order, can be strategically employed within geopolitical conflicts, influencing security and societal design. This underscores the importance for designers to critically analyze the prevailing and contested values within their target contexts to ensure their work is both relevant and ethically sound.
Source
European Security
A war like no other: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a war on gender order
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about gender as a strategic design element in geopolitical conflict?
- Consider the underlying societal values and 'gender orders' that might influence user perception and adoption of designs, especially in cross-cultural or politically charged contexts. Evidence: European Security (2023).
- Why does "Gender as a Strategic Design Element in Geopolitical Conflict" matter for design?
- Understanding how gender order is 'designed' and weaponized in conflicts offers critical insights for designers and researchers. It highlights how deeply ingrained societal values can be manipulated as a tool of influence and aggression, impacting product development, communication strategies, and the ethical considerations within design practice.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Consider the underlying societal values and 'gender orders' that might influence user perception and adoption of designs, especially in cross-cultural or politically charged contexts.
- What were the main findings?
- The Russian invasion of Ukraine is explicitly framed as a war for 'traditional values' against gender and sexual equalities.. Russia constructs its neo-traditionalist narrative by positioning Europe as a decadent 'Other', creating a circular process of reinforced traditionalism.. These gendered discourses have tangible consequences, with the Russian illiberal gender order justifying and enabling military action.. Ukraine's resistance is characterized by hybridised, emancipatory discourses and practices that play a fundamental role in its defense.
- What research method was used?
- Discourse analysis and theoretical framing.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from European Security.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing for international markets or in regions with strong cultural or political divides, research the dominant and emerging narratives around gender and societal values to ensure design resonance and avoid unintended negative impacts.
- What are the limitations?
- The analysis is primarily focused on discourse and theoretical framing, with less emphasis on direct user-testing of specific design interventions related to gender order.