SEAN P. CORCORAN
HIS 300 - INTRODUCTION TO HISTORICAL METHOD
HISTORY OF CHILDHOOD
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
PROGRESS REPORT
SUBJECT: MILITARY BRATS
In looking at the last fifty years when our military presence and our diplomatic relationships in the world have intensified and has become more important, military families (as well as missionary, diplomatic, and business families) have been serving and living abroad in great numbers. Most move from country to country, from base to base, every few years, and many live abroad for over ten years without returning stateside. What interests me is the affect this has on the military dependents (children) as they move from place to place throughout their childhood. As a former State Department “brat” who traveled the world and lived overseas (in eleven different countries over eighteen years) through out my childhood, I plan on writing my research paper on how the childhood of “military brats” (military dependents) has been affected by the plight of the military family living abroad, both in the past and present.
Here is a rough outline of what I hope to cover in my paper. After reading some of the resources that I have acquired, these are the topic discussions I hope to cover.
MILITARY DEPENDENT
· The “family” – moving as a unit
· Different culture, different challenges – overcoming challenges as a unit
· Family support and closeness out of necessity
· Childhood boundaries vs. parental boundaries (the mixing of the two)
· Mutual dependency – caring for the family
· Military upbringing – rules and regulations (discipline)
· Hard work and “controlling” (borderline oppression)
CULTURES
· Interaction, acceptance, and tolerance of other cultures
· Relationships with “cultural caregivers”
· Life experiences
· Introduction to diversity
· Ignorance vs. Innocence
ROOTLESSNESS
· The sense of not belonging – “homeless”
· Loss of friendships and relationships (Letters, phone and email)
· Not feeling part of something – “absence of an identity”
· Emotional loss to a community (a way of life)
· Resistance to change
· Creation of Nomadic lifestyle (adjusting to constant change)
LONELINESS
· Frequent relocations – changing addresses every 2-3 years
· Loss of friends (and pets) – no lifetime (long-term) friendships
· “Orphan”
· Absent parents (physically and emotionally)
· No extended family
· Use of defense mechanisms
ISSUES
· Alcohol and drug abuse (addiction)
· Experimentation
· Teenage Sex – teenage pregnancy
· Rage and anger – Depression
· Child abuse – emotional and physical abuse (feelings of “neglect”)
· Experience the “vices” – prostitution, gambling, nightlife
· Parent divorce and separation
READJUSTMENT/CULTURE SHOCK
· America Culture – a different country
· Fashion
· Life experiences
ASSISTANCE
· Military support groups
· Post assistance
· Peer assistance
· Youth groups and activities
· Websites
· Discussion groups
· Books and Magazines
ADULTHOOD - SENSE OF SELF
· Identity – “Who am I?”
· Personality characterisitics
· Handicapped by life experiences
· Control – without choice
· Commitment – relationships, jobs, community
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