From: kendall@adobe.com (Janice Kendall)
Subject: Re: Women in Combat
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:14:26 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.095500.9583@news.cs.indiana.edu> "Amy Young Leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu> 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. 
>>
>>Now you can yell at me.
>
>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... but I can't honestly believe anything else
>after the majority of people I've seen who chose the military.  I did
>not mean ALL, and most likely don't mean anyone who is intelligent
>enough to be found on here...  So prove me wrong if you wish).  
>
>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.  
>
>I do not feel that social contraptions such as sexism are valid
>arguements of why women should not be in the military.  
>
>amy
>
>
>-- 
>alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
>			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>       I only speak for myself.  Anyone who thinks differently is a fool.
>


The interesting thing is that men in the military have been isolated from
women, so that they become "women hungry".  If the military were integrated,
men would not become "women hungry".  Simple as that.

The only experience I have that relates is from working 2 full years on a
road crew (heavy equipment operator).  I got along well with the guys when
they realized that I had respect for them, would talk to them, and did not
get upset at the dirty pictures (I'd publicly turn the embarrassment back
in their direction - "here, I think you left these on my machine").

But, I was the *only* woman out there.  The foreman, at first, felt he had
to keep the guys *away* from me.  It only made them try harder to come talk
to me (we worked on a 14-mile stretch of road).  Only when I began working
with them on a normal basis did things calm down.  

Anyway, my point is, I agree with the above that the forced separation
allows for the uncivilized behavior of military men toward women.  My guess
is that the military *wants* uncivilized brutes who will do their murderous 
deeds without question...
   
 Janice Kendall    kendall@adobe.com    ...!{decwrl|sun}!adobe!kendall

      Don't Panic!  Clinton will be our *42*nd President.

Newsgroups: soc.women,alt.feminism