Overview
The U.S. Military, like most institutions in our society, reinforces and rewards traditional gender norms. In particular, a specific type of masculinity that emphasizes aggression and stoicism is rewarded by the military. In this discussion you will explore how the organization of the institution around ideals of masculinity and femininity makes it such a gendered environment. For this discussion review the following:
Wendy Kaminer’s article on gender issues in the Army
Dave Philipps article on gender integration of the Marines
- Adam Johnson’s TEDx Talk on Masculinity in the Military
Antonia Hoyle’s article on Katrina Hodge, who won the Miss England competition while serving in the British army.
- Next, address the following:
What are the gender norms that are reinforced and valued by the institution of the military?
- In Chapter 8 you read about how social institutions can reinforce traditional conceptions of gender even if the people involved in those institutions want to change them. In what ways does the institution of the military reinforce traditional notions of masculinity and femininity outside of the individual soldiers?
Explain three of the most popular reasons that women’s participation in military combat roles has been opposed. How do these justifications reinforce traditional notions of masculinity and femininity? Do women need to conform to ideals of masculinity to properly serve in the military? Are there dangers to women maintaining feminine ideals while also serving in the military?
- Discuss some of the consequences of maintaining rigid traditional gender ideologies related to masculinity and femininity in the military. Are there potential consequences for challenging rigid traditional gender ideologies related to masculinity and femininity in the military?