Abstract
The purpose of this study is to uncover identity shaping in women of the military. I interviewed eleven women from various branches of the military to uncover changes in their sense of self, emotion management, and role person merge. Six of these my respondents were deployed to combat zones. The women of this study went to basic training and learned how to be a soldier. They go through a process of "manning up" where they leave behind prior behaviors and beliefs and display a masculine front in order to be successful in their military careers. They also demonstrate a role person merge from their prior lives to post reintegration from the military. Combat deployed soldiers displayed a much stronger role person merge after their military career. Lastly, I found women implement specific emotion management strategies in order to cope with the stress of being in the military by turning to family, friends, exercise, and other soldiers.
Advisor
Emily M. Boyd
Committee Member
Tamara Wilkins
Committee Member
Vicki Hunter
Date of Degree
2012
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Davis, K. E. (2012). Manning Up: A look at Women in the Military and their Sense of Self [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/235/
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