Uniform Identity? Lesbians and the Negotiations of Gender & Sexuality in the British Army since 1950
Abstract: Homosexuality has always been deemed to be incompatible with military service and the British Armed Forces has enforced this policy with some rigour. STatistics for discharges on the grounds of homosexuality show that lesbians in the British Army have been the most targeted group. The ban on homosexuality was lifted in January 2000. The change to military policy means that all gay men and lesbians now have the right to serve in the Armed Forces without fear of persecution. As an organisation constructed as both masculine and heterosexual, the British Army is a place from which women and gay men have been traditionally excluded. This thesis explores how the British Army acted/ acts as the backdrop for the interaction of gender and sexuality within a particular space and time. By exploring the experiences of lesbian soldiers, living and working in the male-dominated environment of the Army, this thesis offers a unique glimpse of how the institutional structures regulate both gender and sexuality by controlling the female military body. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from lesbian participants through a combination of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. My analyses reveal how lesbians made sense of their everyday lives as women and as soldiers and also made visible the strategies they employed to live as lesbians within their 'uniform identity'. This research adds to the body of knowledge about women's experiences of military life by exploring the inter-relationships and tensions between three 'identities' - woman, soldier and lesbian - and places these experiences within the context of the British Army since 1950. These findings illustrate the depth and range of potential areas for investigation and opportunities for further research are discussed.
Abstract: Introduction: Persistent inequities exist in obstetric and neonatal outcomes in military families despite universal health care coverage. Though the exact underlying cause has not been identified, social determinants of health may uniquely impact military families. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate the potential impact of social determinants of health and the lived experiences of military individuals seeking maternity care in the Military Health System. Materials and methods: This was an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Nine providers conducted 31 semi-structured interviews with individuals who delivered within the last 5 years in the direct or purchased care market. Participants were recruited through social media blasts and clinic flyers with both maximum variation and homogenous sampling to ensure participation of diverse individuals. Data were coded and themes were identified using inductive qualitative research methods. Results: Three main themes were identified: Requirements of Military Life (with subthemes of pregnancy notification and privacy during care, role of pregnancy instructions and policies, and role of command support), Sociocultural Aspects of the Military Experience (with subthemes of pregnancy as a burden on colleagues and a career detractor, postpartum adjustment, balancing personal and professional requirements, pregnancy timing and parenting challenges, and importance of friendship and camaraderie in pregnancy), and Navigating the Healthcare Experience (including subthemes of transfer between military and civilian care and TRICARE challenges, perception of military care as inferior to civilian, and remote duty stations and international care). Conclusions: The unique stressors of military life act synergistically with the existing health care challenges, presenting opportunities for improvements in care. Such opportunities may include increased consistency of policies across services and commands. Increased access to group prenatal care and support groups, and increased assistance with navigating the health care system to improve care transitions were frequently requested changes by participants.