Across all cultures and nations, human beings have been conditioned to accept gender roles since time immemorial.
Male soldiers are expected to be physically strong, brave, and assertive while female soldiers are supposed to be soft-spoken, nurturing, and empathetic towards others.
Recent years have witnessed many changes regarding gender roles and stereotypes that have opened up spaces for the LGBT community to express their feelings without fear of discrimination. While some countries' armed forces may view the presence of LGBT personnel as a threat to their operations and military readiness, this is not always true. The perception of LGBT personnel across different countries' armed forces depends on various cultural and national norms. This article explores how these factors shape the way LGBT personnel are perceived in the military.
Cultural Norms
One major factor influencing how the LGBT community is viewed in the military is cultural norms. In societies where homosexuality is taboo or illegal, LGBT personnel face severe challenges both within and outside the military ranks. They risk imprisonment if they come out publicly, which makes it hard for them to live freely with their partners. As such, most people who join the military in these countries do so to escape scrutiny from the public eye. They hide their sexual orientations until retirement when they can openly pursue relationships away from the prying eyes of the authorities. Countries like Uganda and Nigeria fall into this category. Other nations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia also prohibit same-sex relationships by law but tolerate LGBT individuals serving in their militaries as long as they stay silent about their sexual preferences. Some militaries have even gone as far as forcing transgender soldiers to undergo surgery to conform to their biological genders before joining.
Thailand requires all transgender individuals to be assigned male at birth before they are allowed to serve.
National Norms
National norms also influence how the LGBT community is perceived in the military. Most countries with more liberal laws regarding sex and gender tend to accommodate their LGBT members with fewer challenges than those that do not. The United States, for example, has had an open policy on LGBT rights since 2013, which allows anyone to enlist in the military regardless of their sexual orientation. This has made recruiting easier for the US Armed Forces because there are no restrictions on who can join. In addition, members are free to express themselves without fear of discrimination or persecution.
Other countries such as Israel allow only gay men to serve openly while lesbians and bisexuals must remain discreet. These policies vary from country to country, making it hard for many people to fit in if they are not comfortable hiding their true selves.
Cultural and national norms significantly shape the perception of LGBT personnel in different countries' armed forces. While some countries welcome them with open arms, others view them as a threat to their operations and military readiness. It is important for governments to create an environment where everyone feels safe and respected regardless of their sexual orientations. This will help boost morale among troops and improve overall performance in times of war.
How is the perception of LGBT personnel shaped by cultural and national norms across different countries' armed forces?
The perception of LGBT personnel is influenced by various factors, including cultural norms and national belief systems. In some countries, being openly gay or lesbian may be frowned upon while in others it might be celebrated. This can significantly impact how members of the military treat LGBT individuals and their ability to serve effectively. The perception of LGBT individuals can also vary within different branches of the military as well as from one country to another.