Over half of young adults see male-only conscription as unequal, analysis finds
Saturday 4th July 2026 on 10:15 in
Finland
A majority of young adults in Finland believe the current male-only conscription system is at odds with gender equality, according to an analysis by Yle political reporter Kalle Hyttinen.
As a new batch of conscripts begins military service, they are molded into a traditional model of a soldier—one shaped by uniformity, camaraderie, and inherited norms. While these elements foster cohesion and operational readiness, they also risk excluding those who do not fit the mold, particularly women serving voluntarily.
Finnish military culture has been criticized as sexist and homophobic, often favoring heterosexual men. Women in voluntary service frequently face inappropriate treatment, as their presence challenges the established norms. They must continually prove their place in a system designed around male conscripts.
The Finnish Defence Forces aim to increase annual female applicants to 2,000 by 2027, a rise of about 500 from current levels. However, recruitment has stagnated in the 2020s, and efforts to make service more appealing to women are urgently needed.
While the Defence Forces argue that societal issues, such as differing interpretations of humor, contribute to problems within conscription, the institution’s vast influence—with nearly 900,000 reservists and over 20,000 conscripts trained annually—demands deeper reform. Recent updates to service regulations, including clearer guidelines on equality and addressing misconduct, may lower barriers to reporting harassment, but whether this will shift entrenched military culture remains uncertain.
Long-term change appears inevitable, as more than half of young adults oppose male-only conscription. Only the Christian Democrats and the Finns Party support the current system. In the meantime, the military must adapt its mindset: the soldier’s mold must expand, and the value of diversity in national defense must be recognized.
Criticism of the Defence Forces and conscription is not a weakening of Finland’s defense capability but a necessary part of its development, the analysis concludes.