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desertvixenAt least, I know this female soldier is.
1) Women aren't in combat. Okay, not in direct combat. Okay, not in direct combat UNITS. And if they are, and they happen to get a Silver Star, we'll yank them out because God forbid we expose women to that kind of danger. The fact is, there's not really a defined battlefield anymore, and the old regs are just that. They're old. They don't apply so well.
2) Women can't be in combat arms (CA) units because they're weaker than men. Or because the men can't be trusted to ignore the instinct that says, "Protect the woman at all costs". They won't be able to keep up. They'll destroy unit cohesion. OMG, they menstruate!
I am NOT saying that I, myself, personally, would want to be in a CA unit. I wouldn't. I don't think I could make the physical qualifications. But there are female soldiers I have worked with who could have done that. Who wanted to do it. And I think they should be given the chance to try.
3) The Army says it's okay to deploy a woman's who just given birth 4-6 months ago. Despite the fact that her body is likely not physically recovered from the pregnancy/childbirth experience. Despite the fact that this plays merry hell with her bonding with her infant. Despite the fact that other services allow up to 12 months before a woman is deployable again.
I have a feeling that the root of this is the belief that if there's a really long grace period after childbirth, women will game the system.
Again, one of the reasons I'm getting out is because no, I don't like the prospect of spending a year away from my child. I'll be doing it, but I'm also voting with my feet the next time I get a chance. I tried it, I don't like it.
4) Insulting male soldiers by calling them "girls", or "ladies". Implying that they're weak, like women.
5) Sexual assault prevention training that focuses on all the things the victim should NOT do (most of which is sensible advice), but never includes the slide that says:
Men: Don't Rape.
Don't keep buying drinks for someone who's already impaired.
Don't let your buddies do either of the above.
Sorry, got a little ranty and venty there. But still. Truth is truth.
DV
1) Women aren't in combat. Okay, not in direct combat. Okay, not in direct combat UNITS. And if they are, and they happen to get a Silver Star, we'll yank them out because God forbid we expose women to that kind of danger. The fact is, there's not really a defined battlefield anymore, and the old regs are just that. They're old. They don't apply so well.
2) Women can't be in combat arms (CA) units because they're weaker than men. Or because the men can't be trusted to ignore the instinct that says, "Protect the woman at all costs". They won't be able to keep up. They'll destroy unit cohesion. OMG, they menstruate!
I am NOT saying that I, myself, personally, would want to be in a CA unit. I wouldn't. I don't think I could make the physical qualifications. But there are female soldiers I have worked with who could have done that. Who wanted to do it. And I think they should be given the chance to try.
3) The Army says it's okay to deploy a woman's who just given birth 4-6 months ago. Despite the fact that her body is likely not physically recovered from the pregnancy/childbirth experience. Despite the fact that this plays merry hell with her bonding with her infant. Despite the fact that other services allow up to 12 months before a woman is deployable again.
I have a feeling that the root of this is the belief that if there's a really long grace period after childbirth, women will game the system.
Again, one of the reasons I'm getting out is because no, I don't like the prospect of spending a year away from my child. I'll be doing it, but I'm also voting with my feet the next time I get a chance. I tried it, I don't like it.
4) Insulting male soldiers by calling them "girls", or "ladies". Implying that they're weak, like women.
5) Sexual assault prevention training that focuses on all the things the victim should NOT do (most of which is sensible advice), but never includes the slide that says:
Men: Don't Rape.
Don't keep buying drinks for someone who's already impaired.
Don't let your buddies do either of the above.
Sorry, got a little ranty and venty there. But still. Truth is truth.
DV
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Date: 2008-05-08 12:20 am (UTC)I'm with you on the physical standard. I know some women who could kick ass at PT, who could kick ass at a lot of the soldiering stuff, and more than that, who wanted to do more. Because obviously, the women who were going into these units would be pretty highly motivated to show what they could do.
Firing isn't dependent on sex, it's dependent on training. The rifle does not know or care what sex you are. However, since many women who come into the army don't have much exposure to weapons, they tend to listen more attentively to the people training them. Again, a lot of us in the Army simply don't get many opportunities TO fire, or practice firing.
The sexual harrassment thing is improving, but a lot of times (at least in our unit) people try to play the men being sexually assaulted/harrassed as a joke. The person who used to teach the class put a stop to that pretty quick.
DV