There is an ongoing debate as to the role of women in Israel's army and to the degree of integration of women into male-dominated military positions. Using qualitative methods (in-depth interviews and participant observation), this dissertation examines the participation of women in the Israeli Defence Forces with a focus on organizational belonging and military status. / Women soldiers find distinct ways of experiencing organizational belonging and gaining status in the army. Much of women's variation in organizational belonging is linked, not to positions held, but, rather, to the kind of base at which a woman served during her service. Those serving in closed bases (at which soldiers stay to sleep), report developing a greater sense of organizational belonging than those serving in open bases (at which soldiers return home to sleep). This distinction is linked to notions of combat. Those serving at closed bases are more likely to serve in close proximity to combat. As well, closed bases are associated with combat more than are open bases regardless of the nature of individual closed bases. Thus, women serving on closed bases benefit from the prestige associated with combat positions as well as from the organizationally bonding experience of staying to sleep on the base. This stands in contrast with women serving on open bases who are more likely to have their sense of organizational belonging affected by their actual army position and rank and tend to seek status through association with higher ranking soldiers such as their officers and commanders. / There has been a great deal of literary discourse concerning women's participation in the IDF concentrating on women's military positions and ranks. While my research relates to this discourse, it differs through its emphasis on base placement over army position/rank. My study concludes with a discussion of my contribution to organizational belonging literature and with reflections on the implications of my findings for both the IDF and Jewish women in Israel.

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