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journal contribution
posted on 2022-06-14, 00:47 authored by Amy JohnsonAmy Johnson, Kathryn AmesKathryn Ames, Celeste LawsonMilitary spouses are situated at the junction of the military and civilian worlds. They provide necessary support to military strategic and operational objectives and are also expected to perform a traditional spousal role of the ‘good’ military wife. This article demonstrates the existence of strong military partner archetypes which guide military community norms and expectations of spousal behaviour. In 14 qualitative interviews and five focus groups with Australian military partners, participants revealed many different, yet firm, sentiments related to identity, including fierce independence; a sense of belonging; self-reliance; a desire to help others; belief in fairness and pragmatism. The archetypes outlined in this article shape how partners see their role, and how they interact with other non-military partners and the military organization. This research delivers insights into optimizing military partner services to better support spouses through deployment, relocation and other military experiences.
History
Start Page
1End Page
21Number of Pages
21eISSN
1556-0848ISSN
0095-327XPublisher
SAGE PublicationsPublisher DOI
Language
enPeer Reviewed
- Yes
Open Access
- No
Era Eligible
- Yes