ABSTRACT
A shared approach in feminist research is to question that which is considered natural or normal and to critically examine claims that certain issues are private or familial and therefore above or beyond the social and political world. A denaturalising methodological approach builds new knowledge but also intervenes in the world and serves the purpose of enhancing political agency and change. In contemporary Western societies, both nation and gender appear as given categories or identities; their origin is assumed to be non-political or natural. Cross-country comparison provides a way to challenge methodological nationalism. Legacies of war and historical experiences of military conflict are central building blocks in national narratives. Military service is compulsory for men in Estonia but voluntary for women. The Estonian armed forces are formally signed up to the UN Women, Peace and Security resolutions, and, as a European member, the country is also committed to following directives in the field of gender equality.
