As the soldiers each came marching in and stood in formation, I took the picture. A picture is worth a thousand words and this definitely shows it. To us they are heroes. They fight for our country, but society would break down these soldiers into categories men, women, and gay. The men in the military are expected to be masculine, fit, and obedient. This is the role they are expected to play in society. This is the stereotype they are supposed to be categorized in and if they don’t fit it then you’re outside of the norm. These men need to be role models, they need obey, they need to keep everything inside because they need to “suck it up and be a man.” It’s never what they want but it’s what they need to be. However, women in the military they are definitely going outside of social norms. What gender socialization is telling women today is reach for occupations that are along the lines of being a nurse, teacher, housewife, etc. Don’t be a status seeker like men are, women are supposed to be nurturing and using their body to attract men not hard labor. As for the homosexual men in the military, society will question why’re you in the military if you’re gay. You’re suppose to act, dress, talk, and walk like a woman. You’re supposed to be incapable of doing what straight men can do. If you’re a gay man in the military you’re a black sheep you’re deviating from group norms. The military came up with the law Don’t Ask Don’t Tell but how does this help gay men and women in the military? It doesn’t. They are supposed to hide behind this law, hide who they are. Our society want’s everyone to play the role that is described for them.
1 comment:
I love your photo! It definitely does capture the essence of what society says it means to "be a man." I agree with what you said when you commented that women in the military are going outside of traditional gender roles. It's a big step for women, from being told that we can't/shouldn't be doing such physically strenuous work and that we should be at home taking care of the house and children. Traditionally, women aren't viewed as protectors, so it is nice to see that our roles are becoming even more intermixed than ever before.
Post a Comment