Soldiers often develop close bonds with their fellow soldiers during military service. These relationships can be intense and emotionally charged, but they are also subject to social norms that discourage openness and vulnerability. In this essay, we will explore how soldiers navigate relational vulnerability when institutional culture stigmatizes emotional expression. We will discuss how soldiers manage these tensions and build trust in their relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
We will examine the impact of gender roles and power dynamics on soldier-to-soldier communication.
We will consider the role of technology in facilitating or hindering emotional connection between soldiers.
The Importance of Relationships for Soldiers
Military life is characterized by physical and psychological stressors that can make it difficult to form meaningful relationships outside of the unit. This situation creates a unique set of challenges for soldiers who must learn to rely on one another for survival. As a result, soldiers often develop strong emotional connections with their fellow comrades. These relationships provide support and camaraderie in the face of adversity and help soldiers feel less alone during deployments.
These relationships can also create complex dynamics within the unit and lead to misunderstandings if not managed carefully.
Navigating Emotional Expression Within Institutional Culture
In military culture, expressing emotions is generally frowned upon, particularly among men. Masculine ideals emphasize stoicism and self-reliance, which makes it difficult for soldiers to show vulnerability without being seen as weak or unfit for duty. As a result, soldiers may struggle to express their feelings openly even when they are experiencing intense emotions such as grief or anxiety. When soldiers do express themselves emotionally, they risk being labeled as "soft" or unfit for service.
Building Trust While Maintaining Boundaries
To navigate relational tensions, soldiers must find ways to express their feelings while maintaining professional boundaries. One strategy is to focus on building trust within the unit through shared experiences and mutual support. By demonstrating loyalty and reliability, soldiers can earn the trust of their comrades and establish stronger bonds based on mutual respect and understanding.
Soldiers may use humor or sarcasm to defuse potentially tense situations without compromising their professionalism.
Soldiers may rely on nonverbal cues such as body language and tone of voice to communicate emotional states without explicitly stating them.
Gender Roles and Power Dynamics in Soldier-to-Soldier Communication
The gender roles and power dynamics within the military also influence soldier-to-soldier communication.
Male soldiers may be less likely to share intimate details with female colleagues due to concerns about sexual harassment charges. Similarly, senior officers may have more authority than junior enlisted personnel and may not feel comfortable sharing personal information with subordinates. In these cases, soldiers may rely on indirect methods of expression such as jokes or banter to convey emotions without directly stating them.
The Role of Technology in Facilitating Emotional Connection
Technology has transformed how soldiers interact with one another during deployments. Social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram allow soldiers to stay connected with loved ones back home and build relationships with fellow troops from afar.
Technology can also create distance between soldiers who spend hours each day staring at screens instead of connecting face-to-face.
Social media can amplify misunderstandings by allowing soldiers to misinterpret online interactions as genuine emotional connection.
Soldiers must find a balance between using technology to facilitate emotional connection and maintaining healthy boundaries.
Soldiers navigate relational vulnerability in unique ways based on their individual experiences and unit culture. While institutional norms discourage openness and emotionality, many soldiers find creative ways to express themselves and connect with their comrades. By building trust, maintaining professionalism, and managing power dynamics, soldiers can form strong bonds that help them survive the challenges of military life.
How do soldiers navigate relational vulnerability when institutional culture stigmatizes emotional expression?
Soldiers may perceive relational vulnerability as a weakness that can compromise their performance during combat missions. In response to this, they may suppress their emotions and avoid expressing them openly, which can lead to mental health problems such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and anger management issues. The stigma around emotionality within military culture reinforces these perceptions and discourages soldiers from seeking help for their mental health concerns.