The Psychological Impact of Endangerment in Institutions
The feeling of insecurity due to perceptions of endangerment in establishments like the Citadel has a range of effects on social cohesion. In the Citadel, an all boys military college, a social hierarchy exists that places the students into a particular rank. During the late twentieth century, feminists, or those who advocate equal rights and opportunities for women, started to gain recognition; One of these activists is Susan Faludi, who wrote for prestigious newspapers such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, became a national spokesperson for women’s right after appearing on the cover of Time magazine alongside Gloria Steinem (Faludi 72). Faludi, author of “The Naked Citadel”, sought to change the old-fashioned, man dominated society through her writing on pressing issues of gender and equality by going straight into the action with a first-person account on the the culture of the Citadel. In her report, it can be seen that the fight is not simply between those who are for admitting women and those who are against it, it is also an internal battle between the boys. Perceptions of being endangered may have a positive effect on unity in such institutions by creating common goals for them to achieve, to keep girls out and to fight against the disturbance of well-established and cherished traditions, but some customs, such as hazing may make students uncomfortable and anxious, may create a barrier against unity.
Once a custom is set, it is often followed without question as a standard; simply put, it can be hard to change one’s perception since it is so deeply embedded in tradition. For over one hundred-fifty years, the Citadel has held a strict boys only policy. When Shannon Faulkner dared to challenge this rule, a huge outcry and widespread fear ensued. After realizing that they had accepted