Identities: The U.S. Military’s Other Half

Military spouses have been around as long the military itself providing an avenue of support while showing strength and fortitude. While the military member goes to war, the spouse is left behind to care for the family, simulating both parental roles. The United States military community functions according to a strong traditional patriarchal model identifying spouses as “dependents” as well as undervaluing the spouse’s importance by ignoring the identity they have spent their lifetime cultivating. The military further imposes the idea of “dependence” upon spouses impacting major to minor issues including: utilizing the active members personal information to access military installations, arrange moves, and schedule medical appointments as well as identifying the spouse by the service member’s name. The exception to this structure is families with dual military members or spouses that were previously active duty military. As a functioning member within this exclusive network, the active and previously active duty spouses retain their individual identities although they continue to be subjected to the patriarchal mode of military functionality.

This body of work celebrates the individual identities of military spouses and how their individuality is averted as they weather extended separations for the sake of their family as well as the government. Taking the time to think about a sense of self is a luxury. The project encourages spouses to consider who they are outside of their position within the Armed Forces as well as their daily essential obligations. The military community is a microcosm of our global society and this concept of constructing an identity and retaining one’s sense of self is universal.