This post is particularly poignant for me, as I am sitting here at the Richmond Military Processing Center, now a seasoned veteran, watching young kids joining the military, knowing that many of the women, in their careers, will face a great deal of challenges because they happen to be women.
Yet, I logged on to CNN this morning and saw this story.
I'd say it's the beginning of a very critical start in the equalization of genders in the military.
One of the reasons I decided to stay in after eight years of service, almost to the date, is because I realize that in society where rank does matter, that those who have a bit of rank can affect the people below them.
Patriarchal as it is, the military leaves some room for change - and it is up to those in the military,with what little bit of rank they have, to change the culture.
I've already seen the positive effects in changing the mindsets of the "young soldiers" with whom I work. And I believe that the more of our voices are heard in the military (we meaning progressives and feminists), the more the culture will change.
After all, you don't beat patriarchy by recoiling into your own feminism. You beat it by taking it head on.
So, with this story, it seems to me yet another door has opened for feminist discussions and ideals - no matter how little the opening to this door is.
I am not a yeller - yet, just a few hours ago, I had to go "hockey" on a recruit, for making some very objectifying comments and whistling at a female recruit as she walked passed. We work with the tools and power that we have - no matter how small those tools or power might be.
What are your experiences, as both males and females in the military, especially as progressives and feminists?
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: First female general nominated!.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/7746
Weekly Feministing Newsletter
Feministing RSS Feed
I am not in the military, per se, but my fiancé is, so I have begun to have some experiences through him.
As a progressive, and a feminist, AND a pacifist, I have a lot of issues with the military. With any military.
My first "experience" that I had was...not so good. It was a friendly get-together with some of his classmates from his post-ROTC, pre-"real job" courses. It ended up being one of the first times in my life I almost hit someone. I was so angry I got red in the face. The details aren't important, I suppose, but let's just say that they were talking about Hillary Clinton. Ugh.
On the other hand, my fiancé told me about an instructor they had at this same course who, when hearing a sexist joke told in class, asked the students if they would tell a racist joke even if there were no people of color in the room. They said that no, they wouldn't (whether this was true or whether they were just giving the "right" answer is another matter), he suggested that perhaps it then was also inappropriate to tell sexist jokes despite no women being present.
Again, my experiences thus far have been limited. So far they are a mix. And they are all colored by my frustration with the mere existence of militaries, and the danger they pose to my fiancé.
The military, from where I stand, can never be a feminist institution. But it can try. I wish it would.