Gender and the Military

The US Armed Forces are the military forces for America that consist of five branches including the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Although I have friends and relatives in different branches of the military, I have never thoroughly discussed the social dynamics and gender roles in the military with them. Those who I have briefly talked to about it only stated that it was a highly male atmosphere with a lot of testosterone. This description is what most people would think of when referring to the military because certain branches are predominantly male. 

After reading "Sexuality, Gender, and the US Military" by Melissa Trible, I have a better understanding of the different perspectives on gender roles and sexuality within the armed forces. Most of the information in the article is outdated because it was written in 2008 and the "don't ask don't tell policy" applicable to homosexuals in the military is no longer applicable. However, the information regarding gender in the military is still relevant today. Trible takes into account the differences in physical and emotional aspects between men and women. She makes a point to say that these are only averages, not absolutes. Therefore, female and male build and emotions may differ, but this does not mean that all women are not suited for combat. She also presents the solution of female-only combat units so that their training and unit can be tailored for females. This idea would solve some solutions, but males and females fighting for the same thing should be able to work together with the right system. 

Another interesting topic is how female and male soldiers are portrayed in pop culture. There are many movies that include or revolve around armed forces. Some examples of movies include Saving Private Ryan, American Sniper, The Hurt Locker, and many others. These movies have predominantly male characters and the male soldiers are always presented as brave, determined, and strong individuals. Females are also portrayed as these characteristics, but they are also presented with more masculine features. They are regarded as tough and show less emotion that a typical female, and not typically presented as a higher up officer. 

Popular culture also presents soldiers and their husbands and wives in a particular way. For example, Army Wives is a show about four army wives and one army husband. The show includes accounts of abuse, PTSD, cheating, homophobia, financial issues, and other issues associated with their marriages. It captures the life of these families with a dramatic spin on it.