Research Log 4 Women in the Military

Weinstein, Laurie. Gender Camouflage . New York: New 

           York University, 19

Summary:  Women are constantly affecting the military as to how it is ran.  Women not only involved in the military, but are wives of their husbands enlisted. This can cause major problems as to how men operate emotionally due to the length of time away from a loved one.  Rape rises and sexual assaults are through the roof when this detachment is happening.  One of the most important actions to focus attention on military wives' issues was the advent in 1980.  The FAC group and its actions brought military-family issues to the attention of the military.  Their slogan was, "We recruit soldiers; but we retain families."  As a result of emphasis on the families, the different services established 218 centers designed to alleviate the stresses of military life (Weinstein 122).  The centers offer financial, relocation, career, mental health, outreach, and education services at no charge.  By the mid 80's, military spouses created the Military Spouses and Professional Association to help women find jobs when they relocated.  Moving on however, Cynthia Enloe contends that "without women to objectify, men's military service would be less confirming of their manhood, perhaps even of their citizenship, and militarized masculinity depends in large measure on esteem derived from men's sense of manliness."  With the increase in the number women entering the military, the myth of male superiority is hard to maintain when military men are forced to work alongside, or for military females.  Even though incidents of domestic violence are prevalent throughout all branches of services, they receive little attention inside or outside the military community.  Military wives also include in this, where their homes are as dangerous as the battlefield of domestic violence.  For instance, "A soldier in Washington state killed his wife, packed her body into a suitcase, and threw it off a bridge. (Weinstein 123).  So overall, we can find good and bad about military wives for what they have done as apart of the military inside and outside the military.

Response:  The publics lack of knowledge about military culture allowed the military to maintain the traditional role of the military wife well beyond the time when women in the larger society were expanding their professional horizons.  Through the 90's, civilian sisters were renegotiating their volunteer labor for the benefit of the military, usually against their will.  The military wives though, continued to raise considerable funds to benefit the military community.  I believe military wives are not dependents, but women able to jump outside the system and speak military requirements that control their lives.  I like how women were and are able to create these systems to help military wives and husbands involved.  The services seem to have helped thousands of families over the years and will hopefully continue to grow in a positive direction.  

Next Steps:  I chose this particular topic about military wives because I feel that it reflects what is a major issue in the military.  That issue is something citizens of the U.S are not aware of as far as the families that are involved with the military.  Problems are constantly arising for families involved and help in any form is always a necessity.  Whether it be other families helping each other in the military or your average family with no involvement at all, everyone and anyone can reach out to support or families of service.  From here, I will conclude with the major concernment of women in the military as of issues pertaining too right now.  This will top off the paper from start to finish.