Social learning and career navigation in the U.S. Military: the personal experiences, observations and socializations of servicewomen
Industrial and Commercial Training
ISSN: 0019-7858
Article publication date: 27 July 2022
Issue publication date: 20 September 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the interactions of social learning and career navigation and their associated implications for women in military service.
Design/methodology/approach
Social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) exposes and aids in understanding the ability of an organization’s members to reconcile their personal experiences, socialization and observations. Drawn from a larger qualitative study of gender in the US military, this study highlights the US military’s rigorous socialization practices and the reliance on communal memory and social learning including matters pertaining to gender including career navigation.
Findings
Military servicewomen use these processes to learn military culture, acceptable behaviors, institutional norms and organizational realities for career navigation reflective of gender.
Originality/value
This article presents a novel exploration of gender in the military as it pertains to social learning and career progression.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense or the US Government.
Citation
Erwin, S.K. (2022), "Social learning and career navigation in the U.S. Military: the personal experiences, observations and socializations of servicewomen", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 54 No. 4, pp. 613-622. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-01-2022-0005
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited