Gender, memories, and national security: the making of a Cold War military heritage

Cold War military remnants and experiences have recently been turned into museums tourist attractions in many European countries. Recognizing such memory making as essentially political, we examine the role of gender sexuality a heritage. Combining critical feminist intersectional research with perspectives on memory, this article contributes to conceptualizations relationship between gendered security production memory. By highlighting narratives spatial, visual, acoustic arrangements, investigate state-sponsored museum displays two national crises Swedish context: 1952 Soviet downing DC-3 airplane submarine hunts Baltic Sea early 1980s. The analysis reveals how works construct geopolitical outlook, enable emotional identifications, restore order. Heterosexuality hierarchical norms emerge prerequisites for security. We argue that when visitors are encouraged feel security, opportunities critically reflect upon histories decrease, promoting depoliticization politics militarism.