Gender Differences in Orientations Toward Military Service
Abstract
The United States has a history of calling on women for military service when faced with manpower shortages due to recruitment difficulties, demographic changes, or wartime mobilization. The role of women in the military is presently being redefined by policy makers, who are responding to demographic changes and more general social changes concerning the opening of traditionally masculine occupational specialties to women. Consequently, the military is attracting and enlisting women in record proportions, during a nonwar period. The military has always been combat oriented and its promotion system favors combat experience, and thus operates to the disadvantage of women, who have been excluded from combat. The military has historically been a male domain. Thus, men, and not women, have been socialized to fill traditional (i.e., combat oriented) military roles. Men have historically entered military service ready to give their lives for their country. Women, lacking this role definition, may enter military service with work-related attitudes that are discrepant from our traditional image of the military. This may place them at a disadvantage within the military. Even given this disadvantage, the military may be seen by women as a fairer employer than are civilian employers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA077855
Entities
People
- Faye E. Dowdell
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences