The military is a highly regulated environment where men are expected to maintain rigid masculine norms of strength, stoicism, and toughness. Yet many service members defy these cultural expectations by challenging traditional ideas about gender roles and expressing their emotions openly. By doing so, they create new ways for themselves and others to communicate feelings like sadness, anxiety, vulnerability, anger, joy, and love without feeling shame or embarrassment. This can have significant impacts on mental health outcomes and create more supportive communities within the armed forces.
The United States Armed Forces has long been a space that encourages conformity to strict gender roles. Men are supposed to be strong, silent, and stoic, while women must be submissive, passive, and nurturing.
Some service members challenge these norms by embracing traditionally feminine traits such as sensitivity, empathy, and communication. They may talk openly about their feelings instead of bottling them up, share their struggles with depression or PTSD, or seek help from female friends or colleagues when needed.
These behaviors can have positive effects on both individuals and organizations. Service members who feel comfortable being vulnerable are less likely to experience mental illness or substance abuse problems, which can lead to better physical and psychological well-being overall.
Opening up about emotional experiences helps break down barriers between genders, allowing everyone to understand each other's perspectives more fully and work together more effectively.
One example is the "Man Box" campaign launched in 2018 by the Defense Department's Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO). It aimed at reducing stigma around masculinity through educational materials promoting open communication among men about emotions. The program offered guidance on how to identify and address signs of distress before they become major issues, as well as resources for seeking professional assistance if necessary. This initiative helped foster greater trust among soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians, leading to improved teamwork and morale across branches.
Another example is the increased presence of female leaders within the military. As women continue to rise in rank and influence, they bring new approaches to leadership that emphasize collaboration over competition and empathy over domination. Their success shows that traditional gender roles do not necessarily reflect reality—anyone can be a strong leader regardless of sex or appearance.
In addition to creating healthier communities for service members themselves, these efforts also impact civilian society at large. By demonstrating that it's okay for men and women alike to express themselves freely without shame, they promote broader acceptance outside the armed forces as well. They encourage other institutions such as schools, businesses, churches, and government agencies to adopt similar practices so people everywhere feel empowered enough to speak up when something isn't right without fearing judgment or repercussions.
Challenging institutional gender norms allows service members to cultivate healthier emotional expression while benefiting their organizations and beyond. Through openness and vulnerability, everyone can break down barriers between genders and create more supportive environments where everyone feels safe enough to talk honestly about what matters most: our feelings.
How do service members challenge institutional gender norms to cultivate healthier emotional expression?
Service members face challenges in expressing their emotions due to the emphasis on strength and masculinity within military culture. This can create difficulties in establishing support networks for mental wellness, which is vital for soldiers' physical and emotional health.