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Sexuality Research and Social Policy
Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy 1/2018

06-11-2017

Violating Gender Norms in the Canadian Military: the Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Soldiers

Authors: Carmen Poulin, Lynne Gouliquer, Jessica McCutcheon

Published in: Sexuality Research and Social Policy | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Militaries are men-dominated and value a heteronormative masculine warrior ideal (Kaplan, 2003). Soldiers, however, are not necessarily heterosexual and men, nor do they always embody the prescribed warrior ideal. How the values related to hyper-masculinity and heteronormativity influence the experiences of gay and lesbian soldiers is an empirical question. In the present study, the Psycho-Social Ethnography of the Commonplace (P-SEC; Gouliquer & Poulin, 2005) methodology was used to investigate how the institutions of heterosexuality and the Canadian military shape gay and lesbian soldiers’ experiences. Interviews with 10 lesbian and 10 gay soldiers were conducted and analysed. The findings reveal that lesbian and gay soldiers face fairly widespread discrimination in the military environment. They must contend with the institutional demands to meet the requirements of a hyper-masculine-heteronormative soldier ideal. Gender differences are highlighted and social policy recommendations are discussed.
previous article Barriers to Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals
next article Prevalence of Military Sexual Trauma and Sexual Orientation Discrimination Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Military Personnel: a Descriptive Study

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Metadata
Title
Violating Gender Norms in the Canadian Military: the Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Soldiers
Authors
Carmen Poulin
Lynne Gouliquer
Jessica McCutcheon
Publication date
06-11-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Sexuality Research and Social Policy / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1868-9884
Electronic ISSN: 1553-6610
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-017-0304-y

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