From: lmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Laurie Mann)
Newsgroups: soc.women
Subject: Re: Women in Combat
Date: 11 Nov 92 15:53:30 GMT
Reply-To: lmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com
Organization: Stratus Computer Inc, Marlboro MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: ansible.pubs.stratus.com

Amy Young Leith writes
>In article <4221@novavax.UUCP> vaccaro@novavax.UUCP (N. Trafford Vaccaro)  
writes:
>>One thing that no one ever seems to mention, though. When a fire team
>>or rifle squad is out in the field, teamwork is essential. It's hard
>>enough having teamwork with all the the other petty fights and
>>arguments and feuds, and peoples' lives are at stake, during
>>peacetime too, when you're working with heavy or dangerous equipment.
>>You want people to keep their minds on their job. Now what do
>>you suppose is on a lot of 18 year old men's minds when they
>>are sitting out in the field, bored, and haven't seen a female
>>in weeks? I've seen what happens when several young men are
>>trying to "date" the one woman that shows up at the enlisted club.
>>They're at each other's throats. 
>I feel that our armed forces, of all places, should be a forerunner,
>not the dregs of society, as most of it is (boy, am I going to get
>flamed for that one... 

Not by me!  Excellent point!  Sadly, this is often not the case.

Whatever happened to that old saw about "join the military, learn some  
discipline?"

Many of the same arguments used against women or gay people in the military  
were once used agains integrating black men in the armed forces.  But  
leadership from the top and education has reduced (not eliminated, mind you,  
but reduced) racism in the armed services.  Need I remind you that Colin Powell  
is a black man?  His color shouldn't matter, and it probably doesn't matter to  
most of the people serving with him.

I believe leadership and education can also
reduce sexism and homophobia, both in the military and in society.

>Perhaps this attitude of being "girl hungry" after being at it for a
>while comes because 1)these people view women as nothing more than
>objects (surprise, surprise), and that would change if they were SHOWN
>that yes, women are equal.  Not just toys for their enjoyment.  2)You
>tend to respect those that you know personally more then just some
>women who walks into a bar.  3)And you're going to LEARN to respect
>them, if they are protecting your butt in battle. 

Excellent points, Amy.  I think that's part of the reason why homophobia is so  
rampant in the service.  Many men ONLY think of women as sex objects, and think  
gay men would do the same thing to THEM that THEY want to do to do women.   
There are gay people all over the place in the military, yet the incidence of  
male-->male rape is pretty low.  Sadly, the incidence of male-->female rape in  
the service hasn't quite been educated out of existence.

*  NeXT: lmann@vineland.pubs.stratus.com * GEnie:  Laurie.Mann  *
*Bush, Quayle, Perot---We Said NO! * We Voted for CHANGE in '92!*
***** "Hollywood still doesn't get it." Dan Quayle, 9/21/92 *****
* "No Dan, YOU still don't get it."  American Voters, Fall 1992 *
***********    Gee, do you think he gets it now????   ***********
Newsgroups: soc.women