Introduction to Hierarchies and Militarization in Professional Structures
Hierarchical and militarized professional structures are common features of modern workplaces across many industries. These systems have been found to influence how individuals identify themselves within their respective organizations and the degree to which they feel comfortable sharing personal details about their lives, including their sexual orientation and gender identities. Researchers have explored the ways that these structures shape identity disclosure and acceptance for LGBT members. This article will discuss the findings from this research and provide insights into how these structures impact LGBT employees' experiences in the workplace.
Understanding Hierarchies and Military Systems
Hierarchies refer to a system where power is concentrated among a small group of people who occupy higher positions in an organization. In hierarchical structures, there is typically one person or a select few individuals who hold most of the decision-making power, while other workers may be expected to follow orders without question. Similarly, military systems involve strict rules and regulations, often involving physical discipline, as well as a clear chain of command in which all members must obey those with greater rank. Both hierarchies and military systems can create an environment where individuality is stifled and conformity is encouraged, making it difficult for LGBT members to disclose their identities openly.
The Effects of Hierarchy and Militarization
In hierarchical settings, LGBT members may experience pressure to hide their identities out of fear of negative consequences such as being passed over for promotions or facing discrimination from coworkers or superiors. This can lead to feelings of isolation and alienation, resulting in lower job satisfaction and decreased productivity.
Some studies suggest that militarized environments may contribute to increased levels of homophobia and transphobia, leading to further marginalization of LGBT employees.
Factors That May Affect Disclosure
Factors such as organizational climate, supervisory support, and peer acceptance play important roles in shaping identity disclosure within hierarchical and militarized professional structures. Organizational culture refers to the shared values and norms that guide behavior within a company. When organizations prioritize competence over personal characteristics like sexual orientation or gender expression, they may foster a more inclusive environment in which LGBT employees feel comfortable coming out. Supervisory support includes factors like whether managers are open about their own identities and how they respond to employees who do so themselves. Peer acceptance relates to whether colleagues demonstrate acceptance of different identities through words and actions. These three factors together may help shape a workplace's overall climate, influencing whether LGBT employees choose to disclose their identities and what kind of response they receive if they do.
The findings presented here show that hierarchies and militarized professional systems can create challenges for LGBT members seeking to disclose their identities at work.
By understanding these systems and the factors that affect disclosure, organizations can take steps to improve their climates and provide more welcoming environments for all employees. By doing so, they can increase job satisfaction, productivity, and retention rates among their LGBT workers while also sending a message of inclusion and acceptance to other members of their communities.
How do hierarchical and militarized professional structures shape identity disclosure and acceptance for LGBT members?
The structure of organizations can affect how individuals feel about their sexual orientation or gender identity as they navigate through their careers. The way that companies are organized can lead to different levels of comfort with disclosing one's sexuality or gender identity. Some companies may have more hierarchical structures where there is a clear chain of command and employees are expected to follow orders without question.