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2005-08-29 Home Front: WoT

'Sex is key to a woman's experience in the US military'

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Posted by DanNY 2005-08-29 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 It sounds like a good book. The big question, do I order it now or just wait for the porno movie version.

Posted by Penguin 2005-08-29 00:08|| 2005-08-29 00:08|| Front Page Top

#2 I hope her book is a smashing success and read by many women and men who cannot fathom the military way. May it smash a lot of the illusions about the roles that women can perform as soldiers, that they are not Madonnas or whores; barbie dolls or Rambos; all exceptional or all ineffectual. She shares much with her male peers, and much she does not.

In truth, for the most part it is *not* an adventure, it is just a job, and not a terribly enjoyable job at that. But at the same time it is filled with rarefied *purpose*, a meaning, and an intensity that cannot be duplicated in the civilian world.

Even in that brief article, she speaks of the desire to return to her comrades, and that purpose. That aching need being felt by more and more soldiers who have come home to normalcy, that there is nothing here that can match the intensity of life over there. No life or death decisions, no peaks and valleys of emotional intensity, no terrible enemies and extraordinary friends.

Only peace, tranquility, emptiness and loss of purpose back home.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-08-29 00:30|| 2005-08-29 00:30|| Front Page Top

#3 Moose, I agree with your sentiments. This person has incurred a number of life experiences, some difficult ones predating her service.

When I saw the title of this article, I thought it was some bullshit "piss on the military" piece--far from it.

Posted by Captain America 2005-08-29 01:37|| 2005-08-29 01:37|| Front Page Top

#4 I didn't understand why the book is in print in the UK but not the US?

The fact that her husband is an injured vet compells me to purchase the book. Plus, she would provide an interesting perspective.

Posted by Captain America 2005-08-29 01:45|| 2005-08-29 01:45|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm sure it's available in the US. I just read it a week or so ago. She simply tells her story, warts and all. Typical war stories, really - good units and bad units, clueless leaders and inane rules coupled with brave individuals working to get things done despite the system.

Posted by Rory B. Bellows 2005-08-29 02:56|| 2005-08-29 02:56|| Front Page Top

#6 I think the author meant 'gender', but an editor saw a more eyecatching alternative. Stupid editors.

Posted by Bulldog 2005-08-29 04:39|| 2005-08-29 04:39|| Front Page Top

#7 I think the Army should BEG this woman to return to uniform, she is everything that they need in a female role model. If not they should hire her to conduct classes for women/men. Fact: most males like (and want) to have sex with females and this will become critical when they are forced to work and live in close quarters (for both). The story about the rock throwing and boobs shows she can see beyond the action and not see it as sexual harassment. How many other women would see it the other way? And the story about the interrogation (feeling guilt) should be in the manual if not already there. I also believe that all military stories should be presented warts and all. Let the audience take away what they want. I am definitely getting this book.

Posted by Cyber Sarge">Cyber Sarge 2005-08-29 10:25|| 2005-08-29 10:25|| Front Page Top

#8 Sex is key to a woman's experience in the US military

I thought maybe this was a new recruitment slogan.

This isn't the first military memoir by a woman. I remember reading an excerpt from She Went to War by Rhonda Cornum. If I recall correctly she was a medic (or doctor) in GWI. Her helicopter was shot down and its crew captured by the Iraqis. She had two broken arms. Some of the Iraqis were pigs, others unexpectedly respectful.

I'm sure that wasn't the first female memoir, either, but I expect most of the rest are from nurses or war corresondents or somesuch. I have Martha Gellhorn's The Face of War around here somewhere, waiting to be read.

Posted by Angie Schultz 2005-08-29 10:45|| http://darkblogules.blogspot.com]">[http://darkblogules.blogspot.com] 2005-08-29 10:45|| Front Page Top

#9 Tailhook!

Posted by Chris W.">Chris W. 2005-08-29 16:17|| 2005-08-29 16:17|| Front Page Top

#10 Personally, I thought that being tough-minded, and being comfortable with excercising authority was the key. Yeah, there will be a certain amount of sexual tension, when you are the only woman in a unit, or one of four or five--- but you brush it aside and move on, and do your job. The guys you serve with, the guys in your unit--- they are your brothers. And brothers sometimes play rough, and talk tough. Deal with it, don't be a girly girl, and go off crying about it.

Posted by Sgt. Mom">Sgt. Mom 2005-08-29 19:30|| www.sgtstryker.com]">[www.sgtstryker.com] 2005-08-29 19:30|| Front Page Top

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