WOMEN AND THE MILITARY WAR PEACE CHAPTER 10 OVERVIEW THE BASICS In the U S most families have a least one person who has served in the military The U S is 1 in the world in terms of military technology military exports and military expenditure The largest portion of the federal budget supports current and past military operations Major household names Westinghouse Boegin G E research and develop weapons systems and military aircrafts War movies are a film industry staple video games have military themes even toys wear fatigues See reading 56 for militarism No Child Left Behind requires schools to submit lists of all high schools juniors and seniors to the Department of Defense of risk losing funding Politically economically and culturally the military is a central U S institution THE NEED FOR WOMEN IN THE MILITARY The military has needed and continues to need women s support and participation Prime example WWII women were needed for the war effort working in shipyards and munitions factories while men were drafted for active duty overseas The military also needs women as mothers nurses wives girlfriends partners loved ones friends THE MILITARY NEEDS WOMEN AS ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS IN ALL BRANCHES CONTRADICTIONS FOR WOMEN IN A MALE DOMINATED MILITARY Women in Combat Women served in the U S military during WWII the Korean War and the Vietnam war usually designated as auxiliary Media attention on women s participation in the Persian Gulf War showed that many performed in combat similar to men which led to legislation that banned women from combat roles Soldier Mothers 48 of military women are married to a fellow service member 2008 Active duty military included 73 000 single parents Women soldiers have played a key role in Iraq and Afghanistan 12 of women in the military are single mothers Many service women are not adequately cared for by the VA 1992 Military barred single parents from enlisting 2007 The Service Women s Action Network SWAN was founded The network offers alternative options for women especially women of color for the healing process when transitioning back into civilian world 2013 The U S military ban of women in combat was lifted and made a Family Care Plan FCP mandatory for parents and children If a service member becomes a single parent in the military he or she must make adequate provisions for the care of the children SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND RAPE Many women in military academies and enlisted officers experience sexual harassment even though the DoD has had a zero tolerance policy for 30 years Over the past 20 years military women have reported several major incidents which has opened up this issue to the public Accordind to Majorie Cohn commands can reject complaints if they are not credible and women who come forward have limited protections In many cases women are punished and not the male perpetrators According to the DoD survey 71 of women did not report an incident of unwanted sexual contact mostly due to shame retaliation and impunity for the perpetrator The Holley Lynn James bill introduced in 2011 would allow victims access to legal services a chance to transfer to jobs away from their attacker and a promise that their private counseling sessions will not be used against them SEXUAL ORIENTATION Don t Ask Don t Tell Don t Pursue Policy established under the Clinton Administration The Pentagon has long considered homosexuality incompatible with military service regulations precluded lesbians and gay men from serving openly Reports of antigay harassment verbal abuse beatings death threats and killings doubled during the 90s 1999 Policy requiring mandatory training on antiharassment March 2003 Pentagon officials conceded that there is a disturbing level of gay harassment in the military 1998 2003 6 300 people were discharged on the basis of perceived homosexuality December 2011 The Repeal The repeal of DADT is attributed to service members organizations such as Gay Lesbian Bisexual Vets of America the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Service members Legal Defense Network the shift in military culture personnel loss and many concerted efforts THE IMPACT OF U S MILITARY ON WOMEN OVERSEAS Militarized Prostitution As a way of keeping up the moral of their troops military commanders have tolerated encouraged women to live outside military camps to support and sexually service men Militarized prostitution requires explicit arrangements between the U S govt and the governments of the Philippines Japan Okinawa Thailand and South Korea for example where women work in bars and massage parlors entertaining U S Troops These women must have regular medical exams on the assumption that they are the source of sexually transmitted diseases Occupational dangers for women include but are not limited to psychological violence rape beatings health risks HIV AIDS and other STIs drug use and a general lack of respect Reading 47 Militarized prostitution is an integral part of the global sex trade Ursula Biemann Crimes of Violence Against Women The behavior of troops in other countries is governed by agreements between the U S and the host government In many cases U S troops are not held accountable for the crimes they commit they are often moved to another posting Reading 58 Anne Lacsamana discusses the Subic rape case in which U S Marine Daniel Smith was found guilty of raping a Philippine woman Suzuyo Takazato cofounder Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence has reported on the long history of crimes of U S troops committed against Okinawa women WOMEN S OPPOSITION TO MILITARISM Women s opposition to militarism draws on a range of theoretical practices 1 Women s Peaceful Nature There is no conclusive evidence that women are naturally more peaceful than men Differences in socialization lead to important differences in attitudes behavior and responsibilities in caring for others The military is part of the societal division of labor wherein the men protect women children and the old and women take care of them 2 Maternalism Opposition to war military in terms of responsibility to protect and nurture their children and the children of enemy mothers 3 Diversion of Military Budgets to Socially Useful Programs The call for reductions in military expenditures and redistribution of funds to fund social programs that benefit women their families and communities Military as Sexist Racist Institution 1948 Armed forces were officially integrated 1994 House Armed Services