Women’s military participation in Portugal: the position and reaction of political parties with parliamentary representation (1990-2020)

Abstract

This research studies women’s military integration in the Portuguese Armed Forces (1990-2020). We approach the situation of women in the NATO Armed Forces, and, among the several member states, we reflect on the historical framework of female participation in the United States of America, Spain, Israel and Portugal. We examine the parliamentary debates on female military participation in times of legislative change (1990, 2010 and 2020). The study of these discourses revealed that the incorporation of women in the Portuguese Armed Forces was not a priority for parties and deputies, because it had not presented itself as a relevant topic of analysis in political discussion.