Women Who Serve: Who We Are

The concept of women as the gentler sex is hard to square with the military warrior culture.  Husband hunter, lesbian, s., whore, manipulator, or too dumb to do anything else are the historical characterizations of women who serve and are changing far too slowly.   No one is more surprised with this rancor than the young, naïve and innocent women who join the military with an eye on what the future may bring.
I wanted a chance at a better life. I wanted to be more than my surroundings dictated to me. I felt a duty to my country; to protect and preserve all the things I loved.
My time in the Army was one of the best experiences of my lifetime, dotted by some of the most traumatic events I’ll ever endure.
I was inspired to join after the 9/11 attack. I wanted to deploy.
Someone in my family has served all the way back to the Revolutionary War.
Military women are immediately conflicted by social expectation. In uniform, she is to be a tough, dedicated, competent, hard-charging troop. Off duty, she exchanges her uniform for the costume of the hour as mom, girlfriend, date or confidant. Service women exchange war -paint for make-up, hair tightly tucked under a cap or helmet for carefully coiffed hairstyles. Will it be tennis shoes or loafers, flats or pumps?  The military woman as “experiment” has a long and difficult history.  Every decision expanding the role of women in the military encroaches deeper into the private sandbox of the male gender.
I was dismayed at...

Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - February 18, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Advocacy Women Veterans Women's Health Source Type: blogs