I know that people had expressed concerns that Anu held a controversial position, in that she was trying to be too many things at one time.
After this was brought up I see the dilemma that she faces but I did not really think that this was a problem given her mission with SWAN.
My friends in the military are weird. They are good people but they military has made them very loyal to that institution and even questioning its very obvious flaws will bring any conversation with them to an uncomfortable end. In this respect I admire Anu for at least trying to strike a balance in working towards change in an institution that has trained people to be loyal to it with an unquestioning and blind faith. I think that takes guts. I think it is also important that she is able to maintain a relationship and understanding of the way that things work now. That connection, however controversial given her present work, I think is helpful in the work that she is doing. I'm really glad there are networks like SWAN to help traumatized service women when no one else will.
And I have to add that I had no idea rape in the military was such as prevalent issue. I have heard many stories of infidelity (from both men and women) while they were serving in the military but neither gender mentioned anything about rape. Many, like Anu, mentioned solidarity and a great amount of trust and care. To me, despite that I am not really a big fan of the military, I always felt like it was a noble institution that protected its own and maintained high moral values....well you learn something new everyday. I don't really know what to say about it...it's awful, disgusting, horrifying...they might as well throw their service men and women in the most awful federal prison if they are going to treat their victims of rape like that...
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In relation to our reading about the military, specifically, Camouflage Isn't Only for Combat, something that stuck out to me in particular is put best by Herbert (1998) when explaining another controversy that Anu pointed out within the military: "One of the mechanisms by which society enforces these rules is to suggest that when one's "gender" does not correspond with one's "sex," the individual must be homosexual" (p. 59). Anu brought to our attention that women who were feminine within the military were not viewed as equal and those that were masculine were viewed as homosexuals. Societal gender norms that women are associated with, either homosexual or heterosexual, are impossible to reconcile with the nature of the military. Either way, women are undesirable or unsuitable for uniform.
Although Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed Anu mentioned that it was used to eliminate women, particularly African American, lesbian, women from the Army. Herbert (1998) mentions how accusations of homosexuality are used to either ostracize women, particularly each other. As Anu stated, the institution is inherently misogynistic and women become misogynists in the institutions as well, again leading to another conflicting positions, a woman hating woman...
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Reference
Herbert, M.S. (1998). Camouflage isn't only for combat: gender, sexuality and women in the military. New York: New York University Press.
After this was brought up I see the dilemma that she faces but I did not really think that this was a problem given her mission with SWAN.
My friends in the military are weird. They are good people but they military has made them very loyal to that institution and even questioning its very obvious flaws will bring any conversation with them to an uncomfortable end. In this respect I admire Anu for at least trying to strike a balance in working towards change in an institution that has trained people to be loyal to it with an unquestioning and blind faith. I think that takes guts. I think it is also important that she is able to maintain a relationship and understanding of the way that things work now. That connection, however controversial given her present work, I think is helpful in the work that she is doing. I'm really glad there are networks like SWAN to help traumatized service women when no one else will.
And I have to add that I had no idea rape in the military was such as prevalent issue. I have heard many stories of infidelity (from both men and women) while they were serving in the military but neither gender mentioned anything about rape. Many, like Anu, mentioned solidarity and a great amount of trust and care. To me, despite that I am not really a big fan of the military, I always felt like it was a noble institution that protected its own and maintained high moral values....well you learn something new everyday. I don't really know what to say about it...it's awful, disgusting, horrifying...they might as well throw their service men and women in the most awful federal prison if they are going to treat their victims of rape like that...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In relation to our reading about the military, specifically, Camouflage Isn't Only for Combat, something that stuck out to me in particular is put best by Herbert (1998) when explaining another controversy that Anu pointed out within the military: "One of the mechanisms by which society enforces these rules is to suggest that when one's "gender" does not correspond with one's "sex," the individual must be homosexual" (p. 59). Anu brought to our attention that women who were feminine within the military were not viewed as equal and those that were masculine were viewed as homosexuals. Societal gender norms that women are associated with, either homosexual or heterosexual, are impossible to reconcile with the nature of the military. Either way, women are undesirable or unsuitable for uniform.
Although Don't Ask Don't Tell has been repealed Anu mentioned that it was used to eliminate women, particularly African American, lesbian, women from the Army. Herbert (1998) mentions how accusations of homosexuality are used to either ostracize women, particularly each other. As Anu stated, the institution is inherently misogynistic and women become misogynists in the institutions as well, again leading to another conflicting positions, a woman hating woman...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference
Herbert, M.S. (1998). Camouflage isn't only for combat: gender, sexuality and women in the military. New York: New York University Press.
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