Well, frankly I am in shock at today's news that Women will soon be in combat. I wonder if the pendulum will swing back at any time? I actually doubt that combat will work out well for women since some of them are 5'5" and some GI's are 6'0".
I don't know enough history to know if women's roles have fluxuated in the 6000+ years of recorded human history. Of course, it is likely that humans have been round for perhaps 60,000 years. Who knows what happened back then.
So, I am an addict to stories of modest women in long dresses, and riding in carriages rather than riding. My new story that was nearing completion is halted for a rewrite. I'm thinking I'll move it from 2025 to 2075 in a time when there has been a huge cultural retrenching, and while women are not repressed, they are once again in modest clothing and long skirts as the situation suits.
Perhaps there has been a fracturing of society where women in combat or construction jobs wear powered suits that allow them to do many times what humans can do today. Perhaps their off work clothing includes feminine attire, or perhaps those women who choose to stay home or do office jobs wear Victorian era clothing because they can.
I mostly wear clothing that is very long and modest, and find it quite comforting. I do own one pair of pants.
Gwendolyn
Comments
maybe by 2076
there will only be individuals of both sexes! then everyone can have their own child and discrimination will be lessened. the odd out of place people to them will be those born being only 1 sex.
Sephrena
Some of those guys are under
Some of those guys are under 5'5" too. One of my drill sergeants wore size 6 combat boots.
Women Have Always Been in Combat...
...even in the short time encompassed within the history of the USA, although there have always been detractors.
The Iliad mentions Epipole, the daughter of Trachion, of Carystus. She set off with the Greeks against Troy, but was discovered by Palamedes, who incited the Greeks to stone her to death for daring to set herself up as an equal to men. Ironically, or perhaps poetically, Odysseus and his friend Diomedes did the same to Palamedes, although some stories have them drowning him instead.
Karin du Rietz joined the Swedish Royal Guard back in the 1780's, which many saw as emblemantic of the Enlightenment, although some were scandalised.
Dorothy Lawrence soldiered as a 'sapper' on the front lines during the first world war, despite the constant danger, but was discovered and treated as a spy, then ordered not to tell anyone about her story, one presumes to avoid making the hierarchy look like fools.
Of course, women have always been involved in war as victims and casualties as well, so the distinction between 'soldiers' and civilians seems somewhat moot.
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Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Women in combat
Women have always had combat roles, I think. Mostly though, their roles had a different face than men, less direct confrontation and fighting and more behind the scenes fighting, i.e. espionage. When you read the history of the Underground Railroad roughly coinciding with the American Civil War, or the true stories of the French Resistance during WWII, you find that they are rife with women who performed their duties at terrible risk, often living double lives. I quite admire these ladies, I doubt I could cook meals or serve as a secretary for an enemy while simultaneously working to defeat his cause behind his back. It takes great courage to fight without direct confrontation.
Hugs
Carla Ann
I wonder if the combat changes have been thought through
I wonder why the change in combat rules is happening now? I wonder if they have thought them through? It's been many years since have fought anything like a full scale war with massive mobilization. If we needed a draft what would they do with all the women who aren't suited to ground combat.
I know with modern technology one doesn't have to be a bull to fire a gun but all the gear that a soldier has to wear or carry would probably disqualify most of the women I have known.
Of course with our small wars with volunteer army they typical volunteer is far more motivated than the draftee during the Vietnam War and probably far better prepared, but if we ever had a real war, I wonder what would happen.
What About Clothing In 2176?
I'm afraid it might be the same as the clothing in 14,000 BCE. OTOH, people might have killed off most medium and large animals, so skins would not be in use.
ps. Homo sapiens have been in Africa for 180 - 200 K years. Some say there was evolution from Homo sapiens to Homo sapiens sapiens, possibly happening around the time of the first cave paintings. I think the improvements were in the brain and maybe soft tissue changes to speak better, nothing that could be seen in fossils.
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee