Fear and masculinity in the private expressions of soldiers during World War One

Abstract

World War One catapulted the world into modern warfare. Hand-to-hand combat was replaced by trenches, heavy artillery fire, and chemical warfare. Consequently, soldiers entered combat unprepared and left experiencing combat-induced traumas including shell shock. These traumas caused men to physically and emotionally break down which was a stark contrast to the brave and stoic male gender ideal at the time. Most historians argue that shifts in gender ideals didn’t occur until after the First World War. However, by analyzing the personal expressions of male soldiers at the front it is apparent that gender ideals were shifting in the trenches during the war.