Difference and Identity in Masculinity: An ethnography on the persistence of traditional masculinity in military chaplaincy and the British Army

This thesis examines the role of regular serving army chaplains within the British Army, focusing on the dominance of hyper and hegemonic masculinity in military culture. Despite shifts in wider modern Western society, the British Army remains deeply rooted in a traditional form of masculinity, shaping how men and women define themselves and how gender differences are perceived. This entrenched military masculinity not only influences identity formation but also reinforces gendered hierarchies within the organisation.

I argue that hyper and hegemonic masculinity continues to dominate military environments, structuring the experiences of chaplains, particularly in how they navigate identity and difference. Within the Army, padres operate in three interconnected contexts—the sending churches, the British Army itself, and the Royal Army Chaplains’ Department—all of which reinforce traditional masculine norms. The dominance of this military masculinity marginalises alternative expressions of gender, particularly shaping women into caregiving, non-masculine roles, thereby sustaining patriarchal structures.

This thesis employs an auto-ethnographic approach, incorporating my own reflective voice as a military chaplain alongside the perspectives of other male and female chaplains, as well as selected service personnel. Through these personal narratives, I explore how military masculinity is constructed, experienced, and contested. In addition, I engage with academic perspectives, including Queer Theory, to provide a broader analytical framework for understanding identity and gender dynamics in the military.

By examining military masculinity in both historical and contemporary contexts, this research highlights its continued influence on organisational culture and gender roles. The study contributes to discussions on gender identity in military spaces by demonstrating how entrenched masculine norms shape the experiences of chaplains and service personnel. It also underscores the challenges faced by female chaplains as they navigate a patriarchal institution where traditional masculinity remains a defining force.