Roundtable: Housewife’s Secret Arsenal

“Loved by Moms and Law Enforcement Alike”: Militarizing Civilian Bodies through Bulletproof Fashion

Barbara Sutton

University of Albany, SUNY
bsutton@albany.edu

Abstract

Body armor is no longer limited to war and security-oriented occupations. Bulletproof fashion for civilians has joined a domestic “secret arsenal” of sorts, as families with concerns about security acquire technologies to protect body, property, and household members. Bulletproof fashion thrives in the context of fear and anxiety, helps normalize the proliferation of guns and gun violence in US society, and encourages the privatization of what should be regarded as a social problem.

This essay is a part of the Roundtable called “The Housewife's Secret Arsenal” (henceforth HSA); a collection of eight object-oriented engagements focusing on particular material instantiations of domesticated war. The title of this roundtable is deliberately tongue-in-cheek reminding readers of the many ways that militarisms can be invisible to their users yet persistent in the form of mundane household items that aid in the labor of homemaking. Juxtaposing the deliberately stereotyped “housewife” with the theater of war raises questions about the quiet migration of these objects and technologies from battlefield to kitchen, or bathroom, or garden. Gathered together as an “arsenal,” their uncanny proximity to one another becomes a key critical tool in asking how war comes to find itself at home in our lives.

Keywords

armor, domesticity, gun violence, militarization, security

Who knew that “back-to-school” shopping lists would now include bulletproof backpacks for children? Bulletproof gear for civilians has joined a domestic secret arsenal of sorts, as families concerned about security acquire technologies to protect body, property, and household members. These artifacts include alarm systems, surveillance cameras, child GPS trackers, home motion sensors, and guns and ammunition for self-defense. Companies across the United States are additionally selling bulletproof apparel, especially in the context of persistent gun violence and highly publicized mass shootings. This industry feeds what I call a fashion of fear: the practice of dressing the body with garments and accessories meant to maximize personal security. Bulletproof fashion thrives in the context of “public feelings” such as fear and anxiety (Cvetkovich 2007), helps normalize the proliferation of guns and gun violence in US society, and encourages the privatization of what should be regarded as a social problem.

Although bulletproof fashion looks like regular civilian apparel, it militarizes bodies and subjectivities, including those of children and youth. In doing so, companies expand the consumer base of armored wear beyond armed forces and promote the securitization of civilian spaces such as homes and schools. Wonder Hoodie—a company that sells bulletproof hoodies, vests, pants, and denim jackets—illustrates the militarization/securitization of civilian domesticity through its deployment of the “mom” figure: “Loved by moms and law enforcement alike, our body armor products have stood up to strict national guidelines and field testing on and off camera....Our bulletproof apparel was designed to be worn by law enforcement and make sense for every civilian use as well....We've seen how expensive, outdated, and confusing the bulletproof apparel landscape has been and want to make a difference—one bulletproof hoodie at a time” (Wonder Hoodie, n.d.). The invocation of the “mom”—a role culturally associated with domesticity—signals that body armor is no longer limited to security-oriented occupations. In a society with permissive gun policies and awash in guns, the corporate message is that “moms and law enforcement alike” may need these products. The focus is not on the need to reduce gun proliferation or end gun violence, but on the virtues of bulletproof fashion for civilians, including children. In recent times, mass shootings, social unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic have served to promote ballistic apparel, with companies conveying that “it is better to be safe than sorry” (Erestain 2020).

The fashion of fear has been somewhat mainstreamed through news media coverage, particularly after mass shootings, and the sale of bulletproof gear by recognized retailers such as K-Mart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Home Depot. Companies also offer their products directly, for example, the “Bulletproof Gucci Diaper Bag” advertised by Bullet Blocker (n.d.) for $3,100, a pink ballistic binder insert for “daily protection or when backpacks aren't permitted in the classroom” ($89.99, Guard Dog Security, n.d.), and “discreet covert vests” recommended for teachers (around $300, Safeguard Clothing, n.d.). The price of many products is steep, pointing to the class dimensions of the fashion of fear, yet various companies still want to reach a broad public—to democratize access, so to speak.

Although bulletproof clothing is marketed for civilian spaces such as schools, businesses, and hospitals, for leisurely activities and daily work, it finds its roots in warfare. From the relatively rudimentary armor of ancient wars to technologically sophisticated materials in contemporary military vests, these artifacts are to protect the bodies of people—largely men—in battle. To this day, armor wear is typically found in male-dominated fields such as the military, police, and private security (e.g., MacLeish 2012). Much of the ballistic apparel for non-security personnel has traditionally been aimed at men too, though garments for women and children are increasingly available, and various products are gender neutral (e.g., backpacks).

Interestingly, the inventor of the modern synthetic fiber frequently used in bulletproof vests, Kevlar, was a woman: Stephanie Kwolek. This award-winning scientist worked at DuPont for forty years, starting in 1946. Although women were not exactly encouraged to be scientists, Kwolek flourished in this profession. Kevlar came to be associated with body armor, but the initial impetus for Kwolek's research in the mid-1960s was finding “a replacement for the steel used in tires” (Samorodnitsky 2019; see also Rosen 2020). The super strong fiber eventually developed as Kevlar proved to be ideal for body armor, among many other uses (DuPont, n.d.).

Civilian bulletproof fashion reflects the percolation of militarized logics and materials into the domestic realm, blurring private/public divides and adding to a “domesticity at war” (Colomina 1991-92). Militarization unfolds as parents outfit their children with armor as if going to a war zone, and schools implement active-shooter drills. Militarization is literally woven into “the fabric and technologies of everyday life” (Catalyst 2020) as garments associated with war and security forces move into mundane civilian spaces. Bulletproof garments for civilians are generally intended to be “discreet,” but still share features with military/law enforcement vests, namely, ballistic protection. ArmorMe (n.d.) explained, “Cleverly hiding a wall of protective material and field-tested by Israeli security and military experts, the ArmorMe backpack offers the peace-of-mind you've been waiting for. Sure, it looks and feels like a regular eco-friendly canvas backpack—so your child will fit right in with his or her friends—but inside, it's reinforced with a bullet-resistant material that can help protect your child in the case of a violent incident.” Here, the company drew legitimacy from security/military expertise, while emphasizing the civilian look of the product. The securitization/militarization of children's lives through body armor, particularly in the absence of a critique of the root causes of violence, tacitly normalizes the spread of guns and gun-related bloodshed.

The fashion of fear constitutes a militarized response to security threats on the “home front,” with a flashpoint being mass shootings in schools, workplaces, sites of prayer, and recreation facilities, among others. After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, the Colombian-based Miguel Caballero company started making armored backpacks for US children, reportedly in response to anxious parents (ABC News 2013). Companies in the United States also offer similar and related products. For instance, “TuffyPacks has created a program for school districts that desire to make bulletproof backpack inserts available to parents of school age children...as a first line of defense in the event of an active school shooter situation” (Naremore, n.d.). In that vein, a customer review by “Lynn R.” in Bulletproof Zone's (2018) website, praised bulletproof backpacks saying, “This is a MUST for kids in these crazy times. Keeping my babies safe.”

Though not the only portrayal of women in bulletproof apparel websites, a particular type of femininity emerges in some representations, blending motherhood and security. This combination is reminiscent of the “security mom” (Grewal 2006), a woman intensely focused on threats to home/homeland in the context of neoliberalism and militarization. In the case of bulletproof fashion, a securitized motherhood means turning to the market for security solutions against certain forms of gun violence, such as mass shootings. It may entail buying a bullet resistant backpack or vest for a child, or acquiring products that combine childcare duties with ballistic protection.

A video about the Civilian One backpack by Leatherback Gear features a slim white woman wearing jeans and a NASA T-shirt, and fitting various objects inside an armored backpack: a small rubber toy, baby wipes, diapers, colorful books, pink sneakers, and other items. The woman embodies normative white femininity—her straight blonde hair is long, her nails are painted red, and her ring finger dons a ring with a gem, among other feminine markers. The video is a demo of how the backpack can be used as a “diaper bag,” and in one of the customer review comments, we learn that the product is a “great bag for soccer moms” (Leatherback Gear, n.d.). In other words, certain women can add bulletproof products to their secret arsenal to enhance care functions and ensure security. The video scene reinforces notions of security connected with gender, racial, and class privilege: security relies on the ability to pay, often indexed as a form of white privilege; and the protection offered is folded into a feminine role, in this case represented by a white, economically comfortable, woman.

The meanings of these types of representations do not just hinge on the physical features of the people portrayed but on the hegemonic social arrangements they uphold. For instance, as Anne McClintock points out, “race”—in this case whiteness—“is not simply a question of skin color,” (1995, 5) but a principle of social organization that, in intersection with other vectors of inequality, structures the economy and the home. While companies address various demographics, group cultures, leisure activities, and occupations, they do so in contexts that promote particular ideals, shaped by social hierarchies. When it comes to domesticity, valorized notions of the domestic sphere are often associated with whiteness, heteronormativity, middle- to upper-class status, and gendered arrangements that link women to the home and the care of children. Within such contexts, the figure of the “security mom” gains relevance, enlisted to secure hegemonic arrangements, and not just the well-being of her children.

One may question whether the individualized responses proposed by the bulletproof fashion industry will keep children safe. In fact, it may be argued that more collective solutions are warranted, including responses that do not reproduce social inequalities, as market-based solutions tend to do. Furthermore, how does social location affect concerns about different types of gun violence and the responses envisioned? Consider, for instance, differential reactions to mass shootings by private individuals in predominantly white communities versus police shootings and other gun violence disproportionately harming people of color.

Finally, what kind of world does the domestic secret arsenal prefigure? Is it the world we would like to inhabit? If not, what would it take to dismantle the arsenal and create more livable worlds for everyone? Whereas security-oriented gadgets are often framed as simply offering protection, they are also performative of notions of security based on militarization, enclosure, and fear of the “other.” Bulletproof fashion adds to this repertoire, further entrenching the logic of militarized security and magnifying social inequalities. In contrast, feminist perspectives critical of militarization point to root causes of violence and insecurity. Rather than fortressing the body, they encourage holistic and multifaceted visions of security that recognize interdependencies, tackle intersecting inequalities, and promote social justice.¹

Acknowledgments

I thank the Gerda Henkel Foundation Special Programme, “Security, Society, and the State,” for funding the broader research project in which this article is based. I am also grateful to the editors of this special issue, Astrida Neimanis, Diana Pardo Pedraza, Jennifer Terry, and Xan Chacko for the collaborative process they facilitated. I appreciate the feedback I received from the editors, an anonymous reviewer, and the authors in a workshop, including contributions by Michael Richardson, J.D. Schnepf, Liam Grealy, Tess Lea, and Deborah Cohler.

Notes

References

ABC News. 2013. “Bulletproof Backpacks for Kids.” March 28, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSRM8Tw1HKo.

ArmorMe. n.d. “Our Story.” Accessed June 15, 2021. https://www.armorme.com/about.

Bullet Blocker. n.d. “Bulletproof Gucci Diaper Bag.” Accessed January 4, 2021. https://www.bulletblocker.com/bulletblocker-nij-iiia-bulletproof-gucci-diaper.html.

Bulletproof Zone. 2018. “Customer Reviews.” November 15, 2018. https://bulletproofzone.com/products/swissgear-scansmart-backpack-level-iiia-bulletproof-armor-plate-package.

Catalyst. 2020. “Call for Papers: The Domestication of War.” October 2, 2020. https://catalystjournal.org/index.php/catalyst/announcement/view/792.

Colomina, Beatriz. 1991-92. “Domesticity at War.” Discourse 14 (1): 3-22. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41389198.

Cvetkovich, Ann. 2007. “Public Feelings.” South Atlantic Quarterly 106 (3): 459-68. https://doi.org/10.1215/00382876-2007-004.

DuPont. n.d. “What is Kevlar®?” Accessed June 14, 2021. https://www.dupont.com/what-is-kevlar.html.

Erestain, Nicolette. 2020. “What Does Body Armor Have to Do with the Coronavirus (COVID-19)?” March 24, 2020. https://bulletproofzone.com/blogs/bullet-proof-blog/what-does-body-armor-have-to-do-with-the-coronavirus.

Grewal, Inderpal. 2006. “Security Moms' in the Early Twentieth-Century United States: The Gender of Security in Neoliberalism.” Women's Studies Quarterly 34 (1/2): 25-39. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40004729.

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MacLeish, Kenneth T. 2012. “Armor and Anesthesia: Exposure, Feeling, and the Soldier's Body.” Medical Anthropology Quarterly (26) 1: 49-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1548-1387.2011.01196.x.

McClintock, Anne. 1995. Imperial Leather: Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the Colonial Contest. New York: Routledge.

Naremore, Steve. n.d. “School Programs.” Accessed June 19, 2021. https://tuffypacks.com/school-programs.

Rosen, Kenneth R. 2020. Bulletproof Vest. New York: Bloomsbury Academic.

Safeguard Clothing. n.d. “The Need for Bulletproof Vests in Schools.” Accessed June 14, 2021. https://www.safeguardclothing.com/articles/ballistic-protection-for-teachers/.

Samorodnitsky, Dan. 2019. “You Can Thank Chemist Stephanie Kwolek for Bulletproof Vests and Yoga Pants.” Smithsonian Magazine, August 21, 2019. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/you-can-thank-chemist-stephanie-kwolek-bulletproof-vests-and-yoga-pants-180972948/.

Wonder Hoodie. n.d. “Premium Bulletproof Clothing.” Accessed May 29, 2021. https://wonderhoodie.com/collections/wonder-hoodie-bulletproof-clothing.

Author Bio

Barbara Sutton is a Professor in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University at Albany, SUNY, and is also affiliated with the departments of Sociology and of Latin American, Caribbean, and US Latino Studies. She is the author of Bulletproof Fashion: Security, Emotions, and the Fortress Body (Routledge, forthcoming 2023).