tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post4336639415487494486..comments2019-05-15T23:59:20.159-07:00Comments on Feminist Legal Theory: Challenges facing women combatantsLisa R. Pruitthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16469550950363542801noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-29071563572041078872013-01-23T15:01:19.792-08:002013-01-23T15:01:19.792-08:00I just came across a CNN blog about the Pentagon&#...I just came across a CNN blog about the Pentagon's anticipated announcement tomorrow that women will be integrated into American combat forces. <br /><br />Here is the link:<br /> (http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/23/military-to-open-combat-jobs-to-women/?hpt=hp_c1)<br /><br />Jihan A. Kahssayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14930212007071356669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-42202216689771768212012-11-21T13:01:56.959-08:002012-11-21T13:01:56.959-08:00I think you are correct that we need to have a cul...I think you are correct that we need to have a culture shift in the military to make combat units safer for women in all respects before they enter such units. A Los Angeles Times article discussing The Invisible War, a documentary about sexual assault in the U.S. military, stated that women in combat zones are “more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by the enemy.” http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/22/entertainment/la-et-invisible-war-20120622. It is a sad day when it is not the combat but fellow soldiers who are the largest threat to women who want to serve their country. The same article also stated that 30% of women are sexually assaulted during their enlistment, and after the assault the legal hurdles they face are shameful.<br /><br />What can be done to change this culture? Should initial training of military persons include something on sexual assault? Or is it the fault of the legal departments who do not seem to take sexual assault seriously? At the least, the ambivalence of the military toward sexual assault needs to change if the U.S. military wants to continue to recruit women. A quick search on the Internet pulls up dozens of articles and studies about the frequency of sexual assault in the military. KBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14517191832417555528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-12210942504776840562012-10-09T23:02:11.148-07:002012-10-09T23:02:11.148-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.KBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14517191832417555528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7302245627574027504.post-26322451936247465332012-10-06T12:35:09.012-07:002012-10-06T12:35:09.012-07:00“The hyper-masculine, anti-feminine, violence-idea...“The hyper-masculine, anti-feminine, violence-idealizing and authoritarian culture of combat forces presents a security and well-being problem for women.”<br /><br />When faced with arguments about women in the military, my common – and slightly snarky – response is that I don’t think men should be in the military either. If the military is so harmful and dangerous to women, why are we letting men in?<br /><br />First, masculinity itself is premised on the domination of women. To turn MacKinnon on her head: if Tommy has a different voice, it’s because he’s stepping on Amy’s throat. The performance of masculinity by either men or women is an exercise in dominance, and will ultimately harm both sexes.<br /><br />Second, hyper-masculinity is probably better described as “toxic masculinity.” (http://jadehawks.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/toxic-masculinity-part-two/). It is an extension of dominance to such an extreme that it ultimately harms the oppressor. The epitome of this concept is the movie “Fight Club.”<br /><br />Third, at least for the men in my family, authoritarian culture is terrible for our well-being. My dad was drafted into the Vietnam War while he was trying to transfer out of community college. He preemptively joined the navy to avoid having to be in the army. My dad constantly had to deal with authority figures that were far less competent than he was, but who had absolute control over him. It drove him crazy.<br /><br />When I was 19, I went to the Mormon Church’s “Missionary Training Center” in Provo Utah. The motto of this place was absolute obedience. There was no questioning authority, no watching television, and no reading unapproved literature. Our entire day was decided for us. After about a month or so, I started breaking down emotionally, and ultimately had to leave. Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02846170473126452754noreply@blogger.com