IMPACT OF POWER DEVIANCE IN THE MILITARY
The military exists purposely for serving citizens, defend the nation against external attacks, protect the vital national interest, as well as fulfill the notional responsibilities of the military. Thus, the military personnel has to act ethically and abide by their mission of providing necessary capabilities and forces needed on executing the defense strategies. However, most of the military personnel act in a deviant manner that due to powers granted. Deviance means any behavior or gesture or act that departs from the normal norms. In as much as the individual acting in out of power feels superior, such powers impact deviance in the military.
Most of the people in higher ranks within the military tend to abuse their power their gain. Military personnel may utilize their powers to harms civilians that they have been in personal conflict with (Little, 2016). Harming or killing an enemy is considered to be conforming and normative since it is an important strategic mission (Wilcox, 1992). However, an army officer may sanction an operation to attacks a group of people or persons which they might be having personal conflicts or grudges with. The killing or harming in this context is deviance since it violates the engagement rules. Additionally, a person within the higher ranks may decide to steal military resources and sell to get extra money since they are in higher ranks; thus, they cannot be questioned by fellow officers in lower ranks. In regards to this case, conflict theory is applicable since Karl Marx asserts that society will always conflict because of competition for limited resources. There is a social order maintained by domination. It’s a way of studying society to find inequalities in society (Lisa and. Herd, 2013). People within the higher ranks tend to dominate others by proving their superiority for their gain.
Moreover, most of the higher-ranked military personnel fail in assisting the females in succeeding due to the feeling that the females cannot be equated to males as well as an act of preventing them from excelling. This is also considered to be a form of discrimination due to gender (Jennifer, 1949). The military officers within the higher ranks have the powers to recommend or increase the ranks of all army officers, depending on their performance. This includes female officers (Alesha et al. 2016). However, the aspect of feeling that the females should not be given equal opportunity unless it is for sexual innuendos and blackmail creates deviance within the military.
Such actions of power abuse impact deviance in the military in that it influences the deviant identity development amongst other military personnel. Other military personnel will start to fight for the opportunity to have the power for their benefits; thus, creating enmity amongst them (Robin et al. 2011). This, in turn, makes the army to be vulnerable to attacks due to lack of unity. Moreover, the abuse of power denies people an opportunity to progress in their lives to higher ranks, their wellbeing, as well as their agency senses. Such people end up suffering from internalized stigma and prejudice manifested by stress, fear, low self-esteem, and shame. Furthermore, it increases sexual innuendos and blackmail.
In conclusion, power impact deviance in the military in that most people within lower ranks and women are denied an opportunity of ascending to superiority despite working hard for such promotion. Women are the most impact victims since they are discriminated against due to their gender. Military personnel with powers tend to subject them to sexual innuendos or blackmail to get the promotion. The deviance will continue impacting the military unless something is done about the issue.
REFERENCES
Alesha E. Doan & Shannon Portillo. 2016. Not a Woman, but a Soldier: Exploring Identity through Translocational Positionality
Jennifer M, Silva. (1949). A New Generation of Women? How Female ROTC Cadets
Negotiate the Tension between Masculine Military Culture and Traditional
Femininity
Lisa A. Boyce and Ann M. Herd. 2003. The Relationship Between Gender Role
Stereotypes and Requisite Military Leadership Characteristics
Robin P. Weatherill & Dawne S. Vogt & Casey T. Taft & Lynda A. King & Daniel W. King & Jillian C. Shipherd. 2011. Training Experiences as Mediators of the Association Between Gender-Role Egalitarianism and Women’s Adjustment to Marine Recruit Training
Wilcox, C., 1992. Race, gender, and support for women in the military.
Little, W. (2016). Deviance, Crime, and Social Control. Introduction to Sociology-2nd Canadian Edition.