Gender in the US Military

Since the earliest days of the nation’s history, the military has affected male and female livelihoods, social status, cultural experiences, political participation, and citizenship.   The armed forces have also shaped and reflected ideas about masculinity and femininity – what it means to be a man or woman — in American life. This course explores the history of the United States military through its role as a gendered and gendering institution in the United States.  Students will explore theories of gender and militarization, learn some of the basic themes of historical scholarship on gender and the military in the United States, and above all, engage in original research on topics in gender and military history, using primary and secondary sources. women_military_poster