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Military sociology studies the military as a social group and organization, including interactions with other organizations and society. Topics include social class, race, gender, sexuality, religion, family, and interactions with society. It helps draw conclusions about both the military and society.
Military sociology involves the study of a nation’s military as a social group of individuals, as well as considering the military at an organizational level. Those who study the subject don’t limit their view to just members of a military, but also look at the interactions of servicemen with people in other organizations, as well as the surrounding society. Like other branches of sociology, those who study military sociology make use of established sociological theories and concepts to draw conclusions about social interactions in and around a military organization.
Different aspects of social class and interaction could be explored under the umbrella of military sociology. A sociologist might look into issues such as how women are treated in an army versus men, the incorporation of racial minorities into an army, and whether different sexual orientations are accepted in the group. Religion also figures in sociologist studies, especially in the military where members come from a variety of religious backgrounds.
The impact of military structure and culture on the family unit in a society is also a topic of study in military sociology. A sociologist might examine how different policies, such as whether members of the military can live with their families while serving in various capacities, and the effects of family relationships on individual members of the military. Another topic of study includes how families of military members cope with the challenges of military life, including whether families form formal or informal support groups.
An army must interact with the society around it, and military sociology includes the study of how these interactions occur. A sociologist might study a military unit that has been stationed within its parent society, comparing it to a similar unit that is stationed in a foreign land where it is surrounded by people of a different culture. Noting how members of the military interact with different societies, and how members of those societies interact with the armed forces, helps provide more insight into the differences between societies.
The study of military sociology can help sociologists draw several conclusions, not only about the military, but also about the society within the military. A sociologist might examine both the similarities and differences between members of the military and the surrounding society, gaining a greater understanding of both groups. By identifying the similarities between the two groups, a sociologist could use a military unit as a smaller group representative of the larger society, making the study of some aspect of society a more manageable task.
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