ABSTRACT
Organizational culture involves rituals, myths, stories, and legends as well as learned patterns of behavior by organization members. The motivating language of an organization may also be cast in terms of male-oriented metaphors. As Riley points out, "organizational political cultures are primarily male domains." Military service signifies true citizenship for Jewish Israelis. It is deemed a right of passage for Jewish-Israeli youth, and completion of the army is symbolic of complete citizenship. Indeed, the majority of Jewish Israelis take for granted their invitation to participate in army service and, with it, army culture. Considering that army service signifies "true" citizenship for Israelis, one may question whether these women have truly experienced this rite of passage. The widespread belief in the indispensability of the Israeli army to the nation affects Israeli perceptions of men and women in that men, who are deemed essential to the army, are deemed to be more essential to society than are women.
