Do Women Feminize the Military?
Women Have the Equal Right to Choose any Military Occupation
Women along with men, have always had a particular role to play within the nation. While men’s roles have been associated with war, women’s roles have been associated with, biological producers of members of ethnic collectivities, as reproducers of the normative boundaries of ethnic/national groups by enacting proper feminine behavior, and as participating centrally in the ideological reproduction of the collectivity and as transmitters of its cultures. In other words, women have only been considered good enough to reproduce and act as a support system for men. It was believed that there main priority should have been to reproduce and raise children that were going to benefit the nation. However, many women started to part from their gender roles. Many women joined the military and were accused of feminizing one of the most masculine jobs of the nation. Even though many women proved that they had the skills to be in battle, many men still doubted them.
Defining Masculinity
By far, men have always been the one to decide the future of the nation, it is to say that the scripts in which these roles are embedded are written primarily by men, for men, and about men, and that women are, by design, supporting actors whose roles reflect masculinist notions of femininity and of women’s proper ‘place’.It is clear that men designed roles in order to benefit them. Men decided the role of women as the support system. According to Nagel, a man’s masculinity was based on willpower, honor, courage, discipline, and strength. All qualities that made a man ready for the battle field. Men believed their masculinity would be threaten if women joined them in the military.
Threat to Masculinity
Not until recently, women were only able to serve in the proximity of combat in support roles, but were prohibited from being assigned to any unit smaller than a brigade whose primary mission is direct combat on the ground. Even within the military, women were expected to be a support system, rather than being out on the battle ground. Women were not allowed on combat ground because they were considered weak. Men feared that if women were allowed on combat ground, women would not be able to save the life of other men. Many men believe that women did not have the same physical strength as they did. However, with proper training, women could learn the skills to endure their physical strength.
Men in particular, do believe that women have feminized the military, it’s not just another job. The military does not exist to provide breast pumps, field lactation stations, day care centers, playpens, or baby strollers .These people believe that the army will be considered weak with all the women joining. They fear that other nations will see the United States as weak as well. These men should take into consideration that women are actually very strong and just as much warriors as they are. It must be extremely difficult for women to leave their children and especially their babies behind. Women will fight long and hard in order to make sure they return home to their children. Women are powerful enough for risking their life and leaving their children behind.
Crossing Over the Stereotype
Women must be doing something right as they now have equal rights to choose any military occupational specialty including ground combat units. Women were not allowed to be in ground combat because they were believed to not have the same physical endurance as men. An example of a women who has defeated all stereotypes has been Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester. She was the first Silver Star in U.S. military history awarded to a female soldier for direct combat in action. She knew exactly how to handle a situation that broke out in Baghdad. Men should take into consideration the work these brave women do.
Neither Masculine nor Feminine
Women have not feminized the military system. Those who do believe that, believe in very strict gender roles. It has been proven that women are very capable of fighting on combat ground. Women do not have to fear feminizing the military, but have to fear being considered masculine. Joane Nagel, also questioned the same thing, is there a critical mass, a point at which women cease to become masculinized in masculine institutions and begin to transform the institutions according to the feminine interests and culture they bring with them to the sitting? I believe that women will be considered as masculine within the military in order to not make men feel less masculine. Then again, one of the nation’s greatest concern is making men feel empowered. I think that it is very unfair that women have to be recognized and given an award for doing a “masculine” job. Even if women did desire to feminize the military, they would not be able to because they would be recognized as doing something masculine. The military is for both men and women. It should not be considered feminine nor masculine.
