A Pilot Study of Selective Conscription Effects: Interview Evidence from Ethnic Minority Women in Israel

What are the consequences of conscription exemption in contexts where military service is the norm? Military service plays a central role in shaping individuals’ relationships to politics, society, and the state. This effect is especially pronounced among ethnic minority veterans, suggesting that the experience carries different significance across identity groups and may have distinct consequences for those excluded due to their ethnicity and/or gender. This pilot study explores the implications of non-service for ethnic minority Circassian and Druze women in Israel. The exploratory findings suggest consequences for their political interest, participation, identity, and perceptions of inequality, shaped through economic, linguistic, skill-based, and social mechanisms. The study also implies the role of alternative/national service in mitigating the identified effects.