Women

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings” -women fighting male power structure Women, you may be feminist if you: -had lots of choices after high school -had the option of college/grad school -have a career/job and family -plan to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer (professional) -support fair work salary for any work -workplace is free of sexual discrimination -participate in women’s sports -go to a woman doctor -vote in any political race -run for any political office intend to use daycare -can get a divorce (custody) -“You have the choose of wearing jeans and tennis shoes instead of a girdle and heels” “man is not the enemy here but the fellow victim” -Betty Friedan -If civil rights are denied by somebody, it affects everybody Men, you may be feminist if you: -are in college or have had other opportunities because of mom’s good job to contribute to income -mom had support services to help raise you/siblings -have a content, stay at home mom -have ever been asked out by a girl (or paid).

Understand and Appreciate Art -How is it put together? What do I personally bring? Where did it come from? Could not buy/sell property could not enter into contracts without husband’s consent actually seen as property Social no recourse to spousal abuse, no divorce without husband’s consent, few custody rights over kids could not go out in public alone. Educational denied any education, denied education in math, language most could not go to college could not enter the professions (law, engineering), some women attended “female seminars” or “academies” to become teachers; once they were married, however, they were fired. Political could not serve on a jury could not testify in a case (too emotional, not trustworthy), could not vote (not smart, too delicate, “vote like a husband”) Lizzy Borden: acquitted by a jury of 12 men: “not guilty” of killing her two parents “Lizzie Borden took an ax And gave her mother forty whacks.

When she saw what she had done She gave her father forty-one. “The Birth of the Women’s Movement -Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention with their husbands in London; they were denied seats because they were women. The women reunited at a tea party at the and decided on a convention -Stanton mostly wrote the “The Declaration of Rights and Sentiments”. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal”. List of Grievances -never exercised the right to vote he made her morally, an irresponsible being -in the eye of the law, married women were “dead” -denied the right to education denied divorce rights demeaned to second-class citizens.

Women’s Rights. Ratification of their Declaration. Fight over the 11th amendment (suffrage).

Frederick Douglass (great orator, ex-slave, equivalent to Malcolm X) fought for women’s rights at the convention: the compared value of women as lesser than animals in society Video Clip Notes: Not for Ourselves Alone- Seneca Falls narrations from female historians reflecting -a procession of women to Seneca Falls -July 19, only women attended; July 20, open to all (over 300 men and women) -Lucretia’s husband was asked to lead (the women were nervous because they never spoke in public) -men decried women of their rights -68 men and women signed their Declaration -11 new conditions, only 10 were passed; still no right to vote -“The right to vote is ours. Have it we must use it we will” -Stanton -“Without the vote, women would be unable to change the laws that hurt them”.

Last public words: “Failure is impossible”.One of four women and 2 modern women to be on money -Carrie Chapman Catt -Alice Paul “Iron Jawed Angels” (film) -women jailed for fighting for suffrage. Declaration Stanton and Anthony did not get to vote because they died One Step Forward, Two Steps Back -Some improvement -loss of “steam” – Great Depression. “We Can Do It! ” World War II: The 1940s -women take over “masculine jobs” to help win the war -“if you’ve used an electric mixer in your kitchen, you can learn to run a drill press” -“Rosie the Riveter” represented a lot of women; iconic poster by J. Howard Miller -6 million women became Rosie’s -“Rosie the Riveter” by the Four Vagabonds (song) Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jane Baker) was a Rosie working with planes when a photographer saw her and took army photos -Fannie Lou Hamer: sharecropper who became a significant voting rights and civil rights activist Rush to the Altar mid-late 1940s -soldiers come home, women go home, men take back the jobs Marriage rate: 1948- 16. 4%; 2008- 7. 1% Traditional Housewives (Suburbs) the 1950s -normalcy after the war -traditional families/sex roles -PhT (Putting Husband Through), and Mrs. degrees (women going to college to find a husband) -the ideal of the housewife “the feminine mystique” Video Clip Notes: “Why Study Home Economics” (University of Kansas) -“I’m going to need to know” -“.. homemaker the rest of my life” -we’re going to get married, no choice -Counselor: “Home Ec training teaches you how to be a better homemaker” Ultimate Goal: Marriage and Family -regardless of education -TV Show “Leave it to Beaver” portrayed traditional family roles -TV was new in the 50s: what messages were TV shows sending to men and women? -“Drop the Mop” song (“Equal jobs and educational opportunities”). The Winds of Discontent (the late 50s, early 60s) legal job discrimination -1/3 women working outside of the home (low paying jobs, laid off first, “glass ceiling”) -After WWII, new technology -Airline jobs- as soon as a stewardess got married, she was fired; wasn’t the same for pilots (only could be male) -teaching was considered the “best job” (others were secretaries, but no professions) -Lorena Weeks: Used 1964 legislation to fight the legal discrimination at work *operated switchboards under bad hours and low pay Dissatisfied Housewives -Betty Friedan “voice of dissatisfied housewives” -Wrote, “The Feminine Mystique” (1953).

Video Clip Notes -K. Foley: working wife/mother, frozen opportunities and lack of jobs -Dust Roady: earned a college degree in 1950, wanted to be a pilot, denied the position and only offered to be a stewardess Video Clip Notes: Eastern Airlines commercial -discriminatory and demeaning towards female (stewardesses) -they were fired at age 32, versus male pilots being fired at age 60 -Friedan challenged the identity of women in her book; “.. cannot find herself in a house” -not all women bought her message, however -Jacqui Cueball “it wasn’t us, it was a society”

The President’s Commission on the Status of Women 1961 -JFK’s presidency: women were paid $0. 59 for every $1 man were paid -2008: women were paid $0. 77 for every $1 men were paid -low, unequal pay -poor job opportunities -quotas in professional schools (only a certain number of women) -lack of social services -TV show “All in the Family” – wage disparity (Archie was the husband) -60s: some nuns got rid of their habits (changes in the church) “The personal is political” -social restrictions *”men only” and “women only” public places women were isolated in their own homes- they couldn’t meet up and talk -this issue lead to “Consciousness Raising Groups,” where women could talk about anything in privacy without men or children -battered women’s shelters -contraceptive rights, including abortion (Roe V. Wade) -rape laws -Before Second Wave Feminism, issues such as abusive relationships were “personal problems,” not “society’s problem” -However, feminists argued that society needs to be involved with solving these problems Video Clip Notes -Women try to enter men’s bar “women are people,” “start all over” (black and whites, men and women)

“Second-Class Citizens” -60s: in some states, women needed husbands to cosign to get a credit card -70s: women would not be interrupted during consciousness-raising group meetings -women’s strike “don’t iron while the strike is hot” The Mid 60s-70s -Civil Rights Act 1964 banned discrimination (race and gender) -National Organization for Women (NOW) 1966, created by Betty Friedan; still one of the largest poetical organizations for women’s rights today, aimed at men too (better for them) *not all feminists of 60s agreed with her (like MLK vs Malcolm X). LBJ signs Civil Rights Act -Lorena Weeks cited the Civil Rights Act to fight *it took 5 years and an appeal to the Supreme Court, but she got the job she wanted -Women in white robes praying “Mother, Daughter, Holy Granddaughter” -to feminists: Miss America Pageant was the epitome of “ideal woman” -female protestors threw bras, girdles, makeup, and heels in the trash -Shirley Chisholm: equal pay and equal opportunities in the stock market: feminism

Women’s Liberation: “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar” -Helen Reddy -Politics -Legal System -Wall Street -Media -Medicine -Arts -Sports -Pop Culture -ALL AREAS “The Feminine Mystique,” or Betty. Mother, housewife, writer, feminist leader -“The Feminist Mystique” -Worked as a journalist in the 50s, but got fired when she got pregnant; she then did free-lance magazine work from home How did the Feminist Mystique get started? -“McCall’s” magazine “women’s” magazine that catered to women’s issues; asked Friedan to write a piece *Friedan interviewed women she graduated with and asked them “What has been your experience as a woman? ” -The initial title of the article was to be “The Togetherness Woman” (the happy, ideal, traditional woman) -Smith College’s Class of 1942 15th reunion What did McCall’s expect to find? -ideal 50s women -high levels of satisfaction and happiness -LIFE Magazine, December 1956: “ideal American woman…white, middle-class, frivolous, spoiled, beautiful, boy crazy. “

Ideal 50s Woman

• Feminine
• Delicate, Not intellectual
• Compliant
• Content
• Him-focused
• Family-focused
• House
• Focused Video Clip Notes

Christian Dior set standards for fashion trends during wartime -Hourglass figure, girdles and slim shapes with a big bust -“feminine, sexy” -Contestants had to peel potatoes and make a bed in Miss America Pageant Barbie -invented in 1959 -commercial doll (doll $3, clothes $1-5) -Mattel International Video Clip Notes: Xerox commercial -first machine in 1959 -a take-off on Marilyn Monroe, ditzy secretary -overall message: “So easy a woman can do it” A Housewife’s Day -PTA meetings Shopping -Seeing her friends -In her kitchen What did Friedan’s survey actually find? -discontent, unhappy -unexplained fatigue and physical illness -prescription drug use skyrocketed *3 years: 1. 2 million pounds of Miltown (tranquilizer) had been taken by women (mid-50s) -lack of interest in the world or hope for the future -went beyond her college peers She found that for women…. -College graduate rates: 60% drop out (PhT) -Marriage rates up, age down (average 20yrs and dropping in late 50s).

Skyrocketing birthrate -Labor Market: 1/3 working; nonprofessional “jobs” Politics: Congress- more in the 40s than in the 50s What did Friedan conclude? Women suffer from “the problem that has no name”. The housewife’s “blight” (doctors used these terms, even). Psychological problem: lack of identity -Trapped in a dilemma *Homemaker lifestyle that was the envy of many but not fulfilling, especially to the educated woman -McCall’s denied Friedan’s magazine Article (editors were men) What is the Feminine Mystique? -The post-WWII ideology that a woman can and should only be fulfilled as a housewife and mother -Resistance: sickness, abnormality Intentionally pervasive throughout society -Fight back against Feminine Mystique is the Women’s Lib Movement What did Friedan do? “Scream of pain”.  Changed the course of history -Became a pioneer of the Second Wave -Remember Susan B. Anthony was a pioneer of the First Wave Possible “Why? ” Theories -nation’s need to return to pre-war “normalcy”? -“Artificial Buoyancy” idea that in society, there are people who feel they want to be on top, meaning some have to sink to the bottom (men vs. omen) -the need for a consumer class with time and desire to shop.

The Freudian “Why” Theory -Sigmund Freud: Father of psychology and psychiatry. Anatomy is destiny. Women are anatomically built to be mothers. “Normal female traits are receptivity and passivity…a willingness to accept dependence. “Freud is a “male chauvinist pig”. Shulamith Firestone coined this phrase Friedan’s Conclusion: All the theories are true -The Feminine Mystique is pervasive in society and it is the result of an intentional conspiracy by the male-dominated society to keep things male-dominated The Stepford Wives Sci-fi book by Ira Levin: men find a way to turn their wives into robots (ideal 50s woman) -Movies: 1975- thriller; 2004- spoof (credits show many different shots to send his message).

American Film Institute: Best movie of all time graduated from William College then wrote it -Ann Bancroft (who inspired Professor Loughran to act very young) played “Mrs. Robinson,” an unhappy housewife -Dustin Hoffman plays “Benjamin,” a discontent college graduate; actor was originally supposed to be tall and attractive, like Robert Redford -Katharine Ross Music: Simon and Garfunkel wrote the theme song, which was originally supposed to be “Mrs. Roosevelt” -Director: Mike Nichols Video Clip Notes “the Graduate” -Scene begins after Ben’s graduation party -Mrs. Robinson resorts to alcohol and music -” Mrs. Robinson you’re trying to seduce me” Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) -Comedy of manners: making fun of a certain segment of society -exploring dangers of Feminine Mystique in a humorous way -Making fun of upper, affluent lifestyles of these people.

Early Days of TV -1939 World Fair -Rapid expansion. Post-WWII leisure. Better technology Better programming -Content news, drama, variety shows, live broadcast advertising 1955: Fort Wayne, Indiana -Social Lives -Education -Business -Church TV and Politics -JFK AKA “TV President” -TV was live in the 60s death of Lee Harvey Oswald was aired 1950s/60s TV: A Man’s World “Women’s lives are so dull… they don’t need TV shows” “women can make decisions in comedies”. Norman Felton, MGM Executive Producer -Madelyn Martin, writer for “Lucy” shows Television’s Portrayal of Women (according to Friedan) -boring -jealous -inept -foolish -dependent -weak -silly -spoiled -materialistic “I Married Joan” (1954 Daytime TV Show). Joan Davis (like Lucille Ball).

“Mrs. Bradley Stevens” (married to judge_ Marlo Thomas: Arts Hero -Personal Life. Born in 1937. Daughter of Danny Thomas (comedy “Danny Thomas Show”) grew up privileged, wife/stepmother Phil Donaghue (precursor to Oprah, similar talk show) didn’t want to get married *saw the mistreatment of women firsthand in the acting industry, wanted to be an actress, and was concerned about making it on her own Acting -TV Series: That Girl, among others -Film -Theater Writing -Free to Be…You and Me (healthier children’s book), books, CDs, and TV specials.

Other -Producer -Speaker -Awards: Lucy Award (outstanding women in TV), Emmy, Golden Globe, Grammy same as Sidney Poiter: not about winning, but making a difference That Girl -September 1966 -First show about a single woman -Force behind the show, scripts, clothes -Production aspects -end of the season, she had a boyfriend on the show, the producer wanted them to marry but she said “Hell no! ” Making a Difference -Advocate for women’s rights. The Ms. Foundation for Women -St. Jude’s Children’s (Cancer). Research Hospital. Her dad founded this in 1960 Janis wanted what med had- everything Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got. ” Janis Joplin: first female rockstar -wanted to be equal with men -she wanted a personal life -From Port Arthur, TX; always wrote letters and kept in touch with her family -Dated musician Country Joe McDonald -Wanted a career, broke with the band “Big Brother”, and went successfully solo. Died of a heroin overdose -Made it okay for a woman to create her own kind of beauty -made it possible for women to have any type of career -1995: inducted into Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame -Helped women reach for the starts -inspired female rockstars.

The novel “The French Lieutenant’s Woman” was made possible because of the haunting image of a woman in John Fowles’ imagination at the dock looking to the sea. The main character of the novel is Sarah Woodruff who is an impoverished former Victorian educator. Sarah was labeled in the territory as “Tragedy” or the “French Lieutenant’s Whore” because she was thought to loss her virginity to the departed sailor Varguennes. In the story, there is a noble Englishman named Charles Smithson who happened to saw Sarah while he was walking along the shore with his fiancé Ernestina Freeman.

Ernestina was a daughter of a wealthy shop owner. In the long run, he has a ploy to help Sarah as shown in his multiple meetings with her. In due course, he became attracted to Sarah until he pursued her. Unable to overcome his desires, they made love for the first time in a hotel room and he was shocked to his discovery that she was still a virgin. The history of her seduction on Varguennes as the one who got her virginity was therefore a lie. Charles became beguiled to Sarah. He realized that this lie had alienated Sarah from the society where she belongs and which is of paltry morals and fickle-minded that Sarah learned to detest.

Charles then broke his engagement to Ernestina and offers marriage to Sarah instead. Sarah declined the offer and runs away. The lost of Charles’ engagement made him isolated and estranged from the Victorian society and Ernestina’s affluence as well. He looked for Sarah and found her as a model for the pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti in London. From this, John Fowles offered multiple endings.

The multiple endings style presented by John Fowles in his novel is a capturing technique to the readers’ attention. He offers variable choices of ending to the reader because as we all know every book has its own group of diverse readers. To satisfy this and to acknowledge the readers of your work, offering them a several endings is professional enough to recognize their patronization of your work. Another reason why John Fowles offered multiple endings is to develop critical thinking to readers and to know their selves better through knowing what they want. For readers who intend to develop their skills as writer, Fowles give different options of how to make an ending.

Through the ending, the façade of the characters behind the story and the purpose of the story are being more defined and delineated. This also gives us an idea that a story is a story that in fact starts in the beginning and ends only in the ending. Sounds irony as it is, it means that the extremes of the story tells us of what to expect and how to supposedly read the novel. It tells us that story has its twists and turns but may still be straight ahead depending on the focus of the reader.

The novel offered a blissful and joyful ending and a futile and wasted ending. From these, I preferred the blissful and joyful ending as the whole course of the novel is full of tragedy and showing a hopeless case. The happy ending affirms a reunion of Sarah and Charles together with their daughter. The hopeless ending is they decided to part forever after all the sacrifices. Also, the character of Sarah if this is the ending is being detested because she is portrayed as a deceitful and fraudulent woman and as a whore she really is though she was a virgin to Charles.

As an affectionate satire under Victorian plot and setting, the curiosity of the reader to the ending of the story must be satisfied and sultry at the same time. The narrative manner of the story is self-referencing and the characters Sarah and Charles have the reasoning and feat of a twentieth century which is one more century advance than their time. They are expressive of what they want and do what they have to carry out instead of behaving being under the dictates and morals being entailed to them by the society where they belong. Through sexual communication, the main characters had evolved and undergone personal development.

The first ending, wherein Charles marries Ernestina to follow the expected norms in the society to retain class status quo, showed the true lifestyle and ways of life at those time wherein the writer didn’t deflect the ideals at those times. As usual, the consequence of such ending and kind of plot directs a marriage that is not happy and successful.

In this ending also, the fortune of Sarah was not elaborated but focuses on Charles’ part where he let Ernestina know that he had an affair before once to a woman he referred as a French Lieutenant’s Whore. He did not further detail the story and did not need to include the worst particulars for the matter to be closed. This is a fine ending but not much causing reaction to the readers because this is common to people under a lifestyle where class is important. The ending is calm and does not offer much emotion and catastrophic sceneries.

In another ending, Charles chose Sarah and broke his engagement to Ernestina. This is an ending where love is chosen against all odds and mind was overruled. As expected, this has lead to unlikable consequences because of the present society where they belong. Charles became dishonored, humiliated, and shamed for choosing Sarah who had an appalling status in the society. Consequently, Charles was also disinherited from his uncle who then remarries where he got an heir. Sarah left for London without the knowledge of Charles. Charles who had loved Sarah so much did not stop finding her for several years.

One time he found her in London where Sarah was a model. Charles found out that he had a child and the ending was left open where there is an inference of reconciliation and reunion as a family. This ending has so much to offer and the expected ending if it has to be a happy ending. The spice in the ending is the notion that no matter how many typhoons passed your way there is an appropriate time that it will calm down soon. It is like expecting a sunny day at the end of the rain. It gave our human nature a chance to get up and tells us that trials are just temporary. It gave readers an idea of the natural circle of life and giving them hope that their struggles and sacrifices are not wasted because in due time, the fruits of these will soon be reaped.

In terms of character of Sarah, It tells the reader that what we think of us depends on what we allow others to think of us. In this world full of critics and prejudice, you have to be strong and be able to defend yourself because you alone knew yourself most and its limitations that you must not allow others to treat you as inferior to them. The more you allow a person to treat you that way, the more you are giving them right to invade your privacy and dignity until one day it is too late for you to realize that you lost everything. You lost what you should have defended, kept, cared, and guarded.

In this multitude and variable persona and guise behind the character of Sarah, Fowles was able to offer to readers another ending. This ending has its plot same as the second ending where Charles found in London as a model for the pre-Raphaelite artists. Here, there is no reconciliation that happened and their reunion was unpleasant. He found out that he is only used by Sarah but in the process, he contemplated that it is for the better as he learned to reflect and became aware to return to his old self. On the other hand, Sarah had chosen to conceal the existence of their child to avoid extending their relationship.

This type of ending further builds up on the real character of Sarah if is she trying to hold true of what people think of her or is she really that kind of girl. Inquisitiveness and nosiness in a reader’s disposition will be triggered and the nature of a person of criticizing and judging surfaces. Many questions may arouse such as does Sarah loves maneuvering people if she knows she could exploit them through their feelings like Charles who loves and respects her so much? Or is she a connoisseur liar and indeed with few morals that must not be given a chance or must not be loved at all?

In the novel, it was reflected that Fowles has difficulty choosing what the ending should be, the truer and more preferred ending, by disguising in the novel as the man watching the man Charles in the train. He finally decided then to initially have the happy ending then the final as the sad ending. Here it can be reflected that there is an author involvement and intervention in the novel. This technique is a landmark in literature because multiple endings and author involvement and intervention are truly unique and innovative. But is this accepted in the world of literature? Or is this innovative technique acceptable and tolerable in literature?

As we can see, these denigrations have been passed by Fowles successfully as most critics found this technique as more interesting and a demonstration of exceptional talent. Any imitation or adaptation of this technique will be judged and reviewed as not creative, inventive, imaginative, or original at all. The multiple endings technique is also a manipulative style of the author to his readers. He made them raise questions and arouse their curiosity. Others interpret that the author is anxious and thirst for a psychological need to control. But it must still not be ignored that each reader has its own ability to analyze and understand what they read, thus, this aspect in readers’ being cannot be controlled by the author.

While reading the novel not because of the story but due to evaluating why the author made several endings for the story, I can not help to think that maybe the author had taken too lightly or failed to appreciate the ability of the readers for independent thinking and understanding. But looking positively, maybe the author just wanted to satisfy his readers in terms of a happy or sad ending. The ending they will choose will satisfy each type of reader with their expectations being met. Generally, Fowles had been a good puppet master unlikely to uncover of his purpose behind the novel. What we knew is that he had made a remarkable move in the literature world.

Reference

William Stephenson, Chester College of Higher Education. “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.” The Literary Encyclopedia. 10 Oct. 2002. The Literary Dictionary Company. 23 July 2007. ;http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true;UID=796;

Men Make Better Teachers than women (Just for comment)The simple answer is women should teach by men teacher and boy should teach by women teacher so both are study interestingly and paying attention on their subject so students get a good marks I will discuss in general view about men make better teachers than women and in my point of view both are good and bad. There are many characteristics, techniques and other factors that make a successful and exemplary teacher. These may be varied as the teachers themselves.

However, there are certain time-tested attributes, characteristics, practices and environmental actors which contribute immensely to teacher success. The main topic of today is to be categorized as Teacher-Personality and Attitude, Teacher-Student Psychology and Teacher-Institute Relationship and who can be teach better men and women? If teacher doesn’t have knowledge and clear concept of his teaching he shouldn’t teach. There are some cases that, a teacher may be a good student in his class but he cannot be a good teacher. Good teacher requires communication skills and Teacher-Student Psychology between students and teachers.

A teacher also a good friend of you. He understand the nature of students either they are in mood of study or not and how should I convey my knowledge to students in a fun or serious, in story or in joke. That’s make the teacher best that he/she understand the student on their level and if some students asks any question he/she try to understand that what students want to say and try to clear this concept on his mind. One thing also play a big role in class, “Teacher-Personality and Attitude with students”. There are certain personality characteristics and attitude issues which will help a teacher excel at his/her work.

It is widely believed that if a teacher is presentable, he/she will give a good impression to the students especially in the first few days of the class. This indicates that the teacher is taking his/her job seriously and acting professionally and the students eventually will appreciate that. In addition to looking presentable, the teacher’s personality in class plays a big role in how efficiently the class will be conducted. It is essential that the teacher send the right signals to the students so they will understand the basic rules in the class. A teacher also should active and energetic, some teachers are good in nowledge but they don’t have much communication skills with student in the result, the students are sleeping in the class and they don’t much concentrate on that subject. According to my point of view I generally categorized the teacher in different situation that are: An average teacher just tells the students that what did they do? But, A good teacher explain the students that how did they do? And also, A very good teacher demonstrate the students that like this way they can do? And a great and best teacher inspires you, he gives motion to student to achieve the target for not be a good student but also a very good person in community.

That teachers are very rare today that they sincere with their students and wish they always done a best in every field of life. A famous quote “In every successful student behind a teacher, and in failure a strict teacher” So that’s reason our villages people don’t study more because teacher treat them strictly and they prefer work instead of study. The teacher who follow these things it is a good teacher either it is women or men. But in my personnel point of view a man teacher is more best then women teacher because he behaves sometime strict and he doesn’t compromise with their students as women teacher.

Maxine Hong Kingston recounts her life as a Chinese American struggling to find her identity in a place steeped in ambiguity. As Kingston grows older, she comes to realize the destructive nature of silence and is able to conflate the evil cause and effect that silent relationships have on one human mind every bit as well as the well-being of others. Kingston begins his autobiography by depicting silence as a double-edged wedge, the meaning that while silence is immune to being used as a deadly hand, moreover, it is harmful to one who uses silence as a censorship tool in an attempt to change the past year.

In the first chapter of her autobiography, entitled “The Nameless Woman. Kingston opens with a scene between Kingston and her female parent. When the two are consummated, her parent conveys a terrible secret about Kingston’s aunt’s infidelity, so forces her girlfriend to take a vow of silence. Forcing her not to talk about her aunt or even acknowledge her existence, “they want me to take part in her punishment. And I have… existing punishment… the family deliberately buries about her” . By refusing to talk about Aunt Kingston, the family effectively ends her existence. But in addition to that horrible mystery gives more power.

The memory of Aunt Kingston is so stigmatized that the topic of sex is undefinable, and even the word “aunt” can strike their male parent with unhappiness, forcing them to dig into their painful memories. This stance of silence as a formidable force reflects Kingston’s position as an immature, waxing young man excited by the thrill of the universe around her. As Kingston becomes an independent adult, she begins to see silence as an obstacle to self-expression and grows to see silence with bitterness rather than fear.

In “The Song of the Barbary Reed Trumpet,” the final chapter of Kingston’s autobiography. Kingston describes a web of silence throughout her childhood that limited her creativity and expression. At school, Kingston was raised in a Chinese family, unable to continue her studies with English-speaking classmates. Therefore, Kingston is wary of any signs of socialization and quails from speaking frankly in front of a category or from speaking directly to a teacher.

In this province of ageless silence, Kingston begins to look at those who do not panic at the thought of moving on to other human beings.
“I liked the Negro students best … because they laughed the loudest and talked to me like I was making them squeaky-clean speakers, too.” While Kingston grows up to watch the volume surpass the mistakes in school, she laments those who are quiet and timid, much like Kingston herself. Kingston reflects her defeats on one slip-up in a peculiar way.and emphasizes the silent slip-up in the bathroom after school, urgently trying to get her to speak, “If you don’t speak, you have no personality. You won’t have a personality or a hair. You have to let people understand that you have a personality and a brain.” Kingston’s pleas with the silent miss reflects Kingston’s inner suffering that she endured on the custards of digesting silence. The fact that Kingston finds a resemblance in the silent miss reinforces Kingston’s fierce hatred of her, but also highlights her insecurities about her ayn personality as she struggles to make her ayn voice happen, which is choked by the steel clasp of silence. As a gargle, Kingston no longer adheres to silence: Kingston hates that silence has overcome her essence and is ready to rebel against its oppressive nature. At a clip she attends late high school, Kingston feels overwhelmed by the burdensome silence. Dives in to voice her ideas.
Kingston becomes increasingly irritable and engages in an explosive confrontation with her female parent: “My throat hurts all the time. my vocal cords are strained to the point of clicking… I was looking right at my female parent and my male parent and screaming… and suddenly I felt very hard and lonely because at that minute I was saying my list to her. and because of that it grew… not the listener, but me.” During climate research with her female parents. Kingston throws off the silence clinging to her, but in addition she drives a wedge between herself and her female parent.

So many of Kingston’s paranoid units are not from the silence imposed on her, but from her inability to communicate her feelings. Contrary to Kingston’s beliefs, her female parent did not try to marry her to become a slave, and her family did not think she was stupid or ugly. In adulthood. Kingston remembers her memories not in words from her oral cavity, but by using her pen as a literary blade. Entering her confrontation
with her parent with painstaking truth, Kingston portrays herself in an unflattering rather than attempted reprimand for the past year. In maturity, Kingston chooses a life based on facts rather than secrecy. and eventually discards the silent sitting shade from her ribcage. Kingston’s sprouting position of strength, held by silence, reflects her gradual maturation and her confidence in her abilities in aina.

At one point Kingston rested in anticipation of the powerful and judgmental power of silence, but as she learned to believe in herself. Kingston rebels against the silence and embraces a life free of uncertainty. there is a comfort in routine and truth. More importantly. Kingston finds the courage to be honest. (instead of remaining speechless about her mockery of the deaf-mute miss and her harsh outburst directed at her female parent) and commits her memoir to composition, a guarantee that her memory will not be destroyed or erased at a clip. So Kingston proves that while one may seek to flood the truth with silence, a mighty pen can give away the pretense of silence and release the truth.

Women’s Day Women are not an asset, nor are they mere human beings – they are the pride of society. From raising the children through to educating our youth, they carry the largest burden of helping us in comprehending how important life is and why it should be preserved for the greater good of mankind.

In Pakistan, we do not need to look any further – from our households through to our sociological development, they are the pillars upon whom we depend for our emotional and spiritual support, and even at times our economical, social and political fabric coherence. From the youngest to the oldest, they are equivocal representatives of the brighter side of Pakistan. Kiran Khan, for instance, represented Pakistan in swimming on an international platform – the Commonwealth Games, and the 2008 Summer Olympics to name a few; Dr.

Attiya Inayatullah and Mrs. Safia Ameen, who were prominent members of the Population Council and brought to the fore the importance of epidemiological analysis in Pakistan; Ms. Fatima Jinnah, who deserves an honorary mention in this regard for laying the foundation stone of the All Women Association; Mrs. Bilquis Edhi, wife of Abdul Sattar Edhi, is in her own right a testament to the Edhi Foundation.

Her concentrated efforts in maintaining the humanitarian relief efforts for the people of Pakistan are at par with her husband and Pakistan is in debt to her patriotic passion for the nationalistic cause that she continues to pursue to this day; the numerous laureates of Pakistan are endless and deserve wreaths of praise for their contributions to Pakistan. That isn’t to say that they alone are representatives of our society. On a daily basis we see them strive to bring a shining image of Pakistan that has been earned through fair means and admirable efforts.

Notable mentions include; Mrs. Fauzia Kasuri, who pioneered the concept of ‘international level higher education for the masses’ to noteworthy effect – with the advent of the Beaconhouse School System that, to this day, is the most diverse private school network that teaches Cambridge assorted GCEs to the masses; with the Educators providing an equal opportunity for the less affording stratum of Pakistan; Ms. Fatima Riaz, an undergraduate student of Ata-ur-Rehman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB) in National University of

Science and Technology (NUST), who has instituted the start of a NUST-level society titled “Bioreach” – the prime objective being to ‘reach’ out to the general public and provide a ‘researcher’s contributions’ towards understanding diseases in Pakistan better and, furthermore, helping understand how they can be caused and avoided; to the numerous female students of Pakistan whom have represented Pakistan on numerous platforms – school, college, and university level – internationally and nationally; the mothers of children guiding them towards the right path; the elderly women whom have provided their undivided attention in providing advice and counselor support to our veterans in their time of need; they are the numerous ‘silent heroes’ whom have held our society’s fabric together since Pakistan’s inception. This article is a testament to the women of Pakistan, without whom Pakistan would have been different. We, the people of Pakistan, salute you for your untiring efforts and tip our hats in praise and support of your relentless pursuit of the national cause. And with this, we would like to conclude this dedication to you.

Two Unlikely Women in British Literature Rachael Haines British Literature Summer Term Critical Essay Allison, the Wife of Bath in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, are two bold women in literature who abandon the expectations of society on women of the time and instead use manipulation to gain power and control. These two women, Allison and Lady Macbeth are significant female characters because they represent upheaval in their respective societies both in their behavior and in their expected societal roles.

Allison, a cloth-maker, lives in a time following the Norman Invasion. The Anglo-Saxon ways including the more even playing field between sexes gave way to “frenchified”, male-dominant way of life. Women were expected to serve their husbands yet Allison expects her men to serve her. Lady Macbeth also acts unexpectedly when she takes things into her own hands and doesn’t act as a submissive and noble woman should. Following the delivery of the three witches’ message to Macbeth regarding his fate, Lady Macbeth instantly realized what is being threatened and desperately wants to change his fate.

Instead of acting honorably and as a servant to her husband, she devises a plan in which she will commit regicide and kill Duncan herself. She instead decides to convince Macbeth to commit the murder himself. At first glance, the Wife of Bath may seem to be in support of feminism yet Chaucer describes her in explicit ways when he writes about her headdress, her scarlet dress, her hips and particularly her gapped teeth which were commonly associated with lust during her time. Allison comes off as experienced and knowledgeable about men because she has had five husbands.

Unlike the women of her time, Allison is dominant. She uses her body and sexuality to manipulate and gain control over her men. During her fifth marriage even a traumatic blow to the head at the hands of her husband doesn’t stop her controlling behavior and she lies on the floor as if she is dead. She dramatically pretends to be dead from the blow in order to incite concern with her husband. Lady Macbeth quickly jumps into the thick of things when she learns about her husband’s predicted fate. She and her husband both want the wealth and power.

Lady Macbeth devises a plan to murder the king so that fulfillment of the witches’ message might not be met. Lady Macbeth is desperate. She feels her husband is too loyal and not ruthless enough; too weak. Lady Macbeth, although bold and ambitious recognizes that she isn’t really capable in her current state of carrying out murder. Instead she asks for the supernatural ability to be unsexed; to rid herself of feminine qualities so that she can murder the king. Instead of gaining supernatural power, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to commit the murder…freeing her from the burden of actually committing the crime.

Lady Macbeth becomes merely the catalyst for her husband’s out of control murderous behavior. Both women use manipulation to get what they want and both women live outside the societal norms of their time. However, Allison ultimately is a much more durable character. Allison presents herself as a promoter of sexual freedom and not a promoter of feminism. She uses her sexual skill and her body to gain what she purports that women want most; sovereignty over their husbands at a time when servitude by the woman was expected. For Allison, her sexuality was her biggest shock factor.

At first meet, Lady Macbeth paints an image of herself as a villainous queen; both strong and ambitious to retain her power. Yet it isn’t long before we realize that Lady Macbeth cannot handle the guilt associated with being a murder and committing regicide even though her hands didn’t actually commit the murder, she pushed and supported her husband in completing the acts. Before long, the power hungry spree begins to take its toll on the ambitious Lady Macbeth. The audience witnesses her deteriorating health and mental stability as she fruitlessly tries to wash her hands of the guilt.

In this comparison, I find that while both women were women outside of the norms of society they did convey an upheaval. They may have represented the frustration that women and men might have felt over the ever-changing society that both writers endured. However, regarding our leading ladies, Allison is a much stronger character who is able to endure the ill effects of her manipulation, while Lady Macbeth falls victim to them in her quick demise. Neither of these bold, unforgettable ladies were typical ladies of their time.

The Evolution of Women in the Military Abstract Women are without doubt an integral part of the military services. It took the determination of women throughout history to pave the way for the 400,000, women that serve today. From the early years of the military to the present conflict in Afghanistan, women have made continuous progress towards equality. It is through their contributions that the military has evolved, consistently opening more jobs to women in combat. Time has proven that war does not discriminate; a successful military uses the strengths of all members despite their gender.

The Evolution of Women in the Military Women in Military History Although not officially enlisted into the services, women have been a part of the military dating back to the American Revolutionary War. Throughout history, they have challenged the norms of society and pursued their dedication to the Nation, fighting for our freedom. Women in the military have fought through challenges and obstacles in both fighting for equality and establishing their roles in combat. It is clear that the military services would not be what they are today without their contributions and sacrifices.

The Early Years From the American Revolutionary War through the Civil War women contributed to the war in both conventional and unconventional ways. In serving as what we would call today Combat Service Support, they took care of the wounded, brought water to troops, provided laundry services, and served as cooks. Many women directly supported the cause by disguising themselves as men in order to fight in the war. Two such documented cases were Deborah Sampson during the American Revolutionary War and Elizabeth Newcom during the Mexican War.

Sampson served in the Continental Forces for over a year, she only earned half of the pension the men received during that time. Newcom enlisted in the Missouri volunteer Infantry and marched for over 600 miles. Once discovered, the military discharged her with no benefits. There were also several women who fought alongside their husbands with no pay or benefits. If their husbands received wounds during the conflict, they did not hesitate for a second to step in and continue the fight. One of the most well-known women of the Civil War was Dr. Mary Walker.

She was unable to find a paying job in the military simply because she was a woman, She volunteered on the front lines, saving thousands of lives. Although the military did not call these women “Soldiers,” at that time, I would argue that their actions and contributions whether directly in the fight or support were that of Soldiers. From the Spanish American War in 1898 to 1908 women continued to progress. With the number of casualties from the war overwhelming the medical system, the military services were in dire need of help. They had no choice but to allow women into the services, but continued to restrict them as contract workers only.

By the war’s end, the Army hired over 1,500 nurse contractors that served at hospitals throughout the world. The performance of the contract nurses was not without notice; this prompted Dr McGee to write legislation creating a permanent corps of nurses. This was a major turning point for women in the military, which resulted in the first woman appointed as the Acting Assistant Surgeon General, Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee. It was evident that the Army could not meet the demands of the war without the use of women resulting in the establishment of the Army Nurses Corp in 1901 and the Navy Nurse Corp in 1908 (“Highlights in History,” n. . ). The period of World War I and World War II brought significant advancements for women in the military although it would prove that women were expendable. After the passing of the Selective Service Act and the draft initiated, there were over 4. 8 million men served fighting in the war. This had a significant impact on the women of the nation not only were they needed to fill the millions of jobs left on the home front, but the military needed the women to free the men of noncombatant duties. The Navy and Marines were the first to enlist women ignoring red tape from congress.

The Navy enlisted over 12,000 Yeomen and 1,500 nurses and the Marines enlisted over 300 women in the reserves as telephone operators and clerks. The Army unofficially enlisted over 21,000 nurses as contract workers and volunteers. The Army Signal Corp trained over 300 bilingual telephone operators and stenographers. At the end of the war, the military did not recognize women for their service or consider them Veterans. For example, the telephone operators left the military with little appreciation, receiving no ceremonies and no formal discharge or benefits. These women erformed duties no less important than the men did and the mission would have failed without them, yet the military was able to dismiss them with no concern for their contributions. In 1979, the Army reviewed the women’s service and determined that they performed duties as any other Soldier had. They gave them full recognition; unfortunately, for many it was too late, they passed away never receiving the title of “Veteran. ” As women volunteered for service for a resistant military, compared to the many men that the government drafted it was clear the military did not appreciate their commitment, sacrifices and value the worth of women.

This was evident by the Army Reorganization Act in 1920, which granted military nurses “relative rank” of an officer, not receiving the same pay, benefits, and privileges as that of male officers of the same rank (“Chronicles of,” 2007). As World War II began, the military could not ignore the contribution of women during World War I and knew they could not fight another war without them. During World War II, over 400,000 women served in the military in both the United States and Overseas. We know World War II for the number of women that served; emphasizing both the need for women in the military and their commitment to duty.

However, women would bear many challenges during this time. Women in the military continued to go against the norms of society that considered womens place to be at home taking care of the home and family. The majority of men in the military did not accept them as equals; although they held many positions previously only held by men. The problems with date rape and slander continued. According to Gruhzit-Hoyt (1995), a quote heard often among men in the Navy, they had “joined the navy to ride the WAVES” (Women Accepted for Volunteer Service).

These challenges continue to exist even in today’s military. Highly trained women were underutilized and ranked far below their duties and responsibilities. It was common for higher ranking individuals to assign some women as babysitters and personal servants. The Corps of Engineers and Medical Services used their assigned women as “mop commandos” (Weatherford, 1990). One example is of a private named Mary McMillin. She held the womens world altitude record in parachuting, having jumped from 24,800 feet and known for her work as a daredevil in the flying circus.

Her duties in the Army were to pack parachutes for young men who had never jumped before in their lives (Weatherford, 1990). The rank of women during this time was far below that of men. One such case was Oveta Culp Hobby; she was responsible for over 60,000 women, formed an organization from scratch, and took on complex missions. Her rank was Colonel, which compared to the rank of a man who would command no more than 500 Soldiers (Weatherford, 1990). These are only a few examples but women felt the inequality throughout the military for many years.

Women not only had the issues of being a female in the military, but they dealt with the same issues that the men did being at war. They had substandard living conditions, which were sometimes worse than the mens, lack of supplies and fear of the Enemy. In 1942, the Japanese held sixty-seven women for over two years as Prisoners of War (POW). They also captured five Navy nurses holding them for five months and a second group, holding them for 37 months. The Japanese treated the women worse than the men POW, raping and harassing them on a consistent basis.

These events further supported the view of the majority of society who believed the military service was no place for a woman. This did not stop women from fighting to be in the services. By the end of the war, the military made significant strides in establishing women into the military. All services had developed either a corps or reserve for women; the Army established the WAC, the Air Force established the Women Air force Service Pilots (WASP), the Navy established the Women Excepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES), and the Marines and Coast Guard established the Women’s Reserves.

It is hard to imagine how the war would have ended without the 400,000 women that served. Nether less, it was clear that history would repeat itself and once again, the military dismissed the majority of women even if more qualified than their male counterparts. Time for Change The years following World War II through Post Korean War would bring much change and initial uncertainty for women in the services, yet would prove to be a time of positive and lasting change. In 1945, the WAC closed for enlistment, closing all training centers.

The number of women in the WAC decreased from over 150,000, to barely 3,000. Although some women were happy to return home to their lives before the war, found that they had the need and passion to do more. The Army realized the need to maintain women in the regular Army, therefore, a year later the Army Chief of Staff Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower began the process of making the WAC a permanent part of the Army. After three years with Lt. Col. Mary Louise Milligan leading the way, President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Service’s Integration Act. This was a historic time for women throughout all services.

The first enlisted women entered the Regular Army was in July 1948, and the first WAC officers received Regular Army appointments in December 1948 (“Women in the,” n. d. ). This opened the door for the military to recognize women for their service and made it possible for women to make the military a career. It was through the Korean War and the years following that women would begin to understand what being part of the Regular Army would mean. The Army recalled many Officers for duty and involuntarily extended those enlisted that had planned to leave the military.

More than 500 women served in the combat zone. The Koreans killed Seventeen women during the war, which was considerably less than World War II; fortunately, the military gave these women the same courtesies and benefits as the men. Following the Korean War, more positions opened to women, and training available for women increased tremendously. A true testament to women fully integrating into the services is the addition of reenlistment bonuses and pay increases and for the first time implementation of uniforms for women.

Women could finally say that they were officially part of the United States military organization although the battle for true equality was far from won. The military’s expectations of women were in contradiction to the growing feminist movement in the United States during the Vietnam War but would eventually have to adhere to the expectations of the nation (“Highlights in History,” n. d. ). The military expected women to look like women. They were to dress appropriately in skirts and high heels, where make up, and use appropriate ladylike manners.

These guidelines even applied to the women in Vietnam. The military spent money to retrain women to perform what they considered a womens work, such as typing and cooking, even if trained and proficient in other technical skills. These actions further restricted promotions for women making them uncompetitive and ineligible for promotion to Admiral or General. Eventually the military could no longer go against the demands of female service members for equality; congress voted to allow womens promotion to higher pay grades to include Admiral and General in 1967. “Women in the,” n. d. ). This movement would propel many firsts for women throughout the Vietnam War to include; first woman enlisted in the Air National Guard, promoted to Brigadier General, aircraft maintenance officer, promoted to Major General, first naval vessel sails with female and male crew, and the Army’s first woman helicopter pilot. Although this was a step in the right direction, there was still a long road to equality. The Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives made the following statement making that clear. … here cannot be complete equality between men and women in the matter of military careers. The stern demands of combat, sea duty, and other types of assignments directly related to combat are not placed upon women in our society. … It is recognized that a male officer in arriving at the point where he may be considered for general and flag rank passes through a crucible to which the woman officer is not subjected—such as combat, long tours at sea, and other dangers and isolation (“Women in the,” n. d. ). From the post Vietnam Era to the present, women continued to earn their way to the highest ranks in the military.

They took on the toughest jobs and assignments and proved that they were as capable as men to complete the most complex missions. During this time, women enter into the service academies and graduate, a woman commands a major military installation, the first African-American woman promoted to Brigadier General. During Operation Just Cause in Panama, two woman Command companies and the list continues. Women would continue to show their relevance through Operation Iraqi Freedom and presently in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) would prove to be both a time for women to excel and time of great challenges for women in the military. There have been more women killed in OIF than in any war since World War II with over 200,000 deployed. Unfortunately, the war itself has not been the only challenge. The biggest challenge has come from within our own ranks. According to several studies of the US military funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs, 30% of military women are raped while serving, 71% are sexually assaulted, and 90% are sexually harassed (Benedict, 2009).

While deployed leadership issues women whistles, ordered them to stay with battle buddies. Is this what a Soldier deserves while fighting for her country? With the increase of sexual misconduct, the military has taken a more proactive approach to training and has given victims more options for reporting. Although not officially authorized to serve in direct combat, they are. They conduct patrol, female searches at checkpoints and serve as pilots just to name a few. This has led to the debate of womens roles in combat. Womans Roles in Combat Women’s roles in combat have been a subject of debate.

Both in the military and within society, people believe that women do not belong in direct combat or on the front lines. Those that do support women in combat argue that some, not all women are just as capable as men to perform combat duties and should be afforded the same opportunities as men in the military. There are compelling arguments on both sides, but the truth is that women will continue to fight for equal treatment in all facets of the military. Although the thought of women fighting on the front lines of combat is at times difficult to imagine, it is reality.

There are concerns with physical capability, mental ability, and effects on the unit. The opposition says that women are caretakers, nurturers, life givers and everything that combat entails goes against those roles. Combat as defined by General Robert Barrow, former commandant of the US Marine Corps, “exposure to danger is not combat. Being shot at, even being killed, is not combat. Combat is finding…closing with…and killing or capturing the enemy. It is killing, and it’s done in an environment that is often as difficult as you can possibly imagine…Brutality.

Death. Dying. It’s uncivilized! And women can’t do it” (Muir, 1992, p. 3). This statement is very broad and stereotypes all women. However, not all women are the same and many women want the same opportunity to fight and die if need be for their country. Another common argument is that women do not have the physical strength and stamina to conduct combat missions. Most would agree that the majority of women, as with many men, are not physically capable to perform combat duties. Therefore, the military should develop a physical test to determine MOS eligibility.

This would enable the most qualified personnel to perform in combat, regardless of sex. Is a woman mentally capable of killing, can they pull the trigger? Women may go through a different decision-making process than a man, although with training, and mission analysis, they will do what they have to do. Combat has an effect on all service members. Women will have post combat issues, but no different than men. Effects on the units can be minimal if the military develops a slow and deliberate plan to integrate women into the units.

Change is difficult, but we are a Military that must adapt to a constantly changing environment. As with the repeal of “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” it is the leader’s responsibility to educate, train, and enforce changes that in the end state will only make us a stronger military. The Military Leadership Diversity Committee is currently in support of women fulfilling combat roles. It is clear that women have been serving in combat roles unofficially for years. Units have cleverly attached women to combat units instead of assigning them or simply tasking them to perform missions in direct combat.

The mission will place many women not attached or tasked in direct combat with the enemy meeting the exact definition of General Robert Barrow. Therefore, the reality is that women are on the front lines, and it is time that the military opens all jobs to women. Considering the major contributions of women, and the impact they had on the military, it is imperative that the military gives women the same opportunities to serve their country as their male counterparts. Contributions of Women throughout History Many legendary women throughout military history are not well known.

Early in history they did not serve in legitimate roles; therefore, nobody wrote about or recognized them until many years later. Yet it is important to understand without their contributions things may be different today. Catherine Moore Barry was primarily responsible for General Morgan defeating Gen Cornwallis at Cowpens during the Revolutionary War, which ultimately resulted in the Colonies winning their independence from Britain. Rose O’Neal Greenhow who became one of the best-known spies during the Civil War sent a message to Gen Beauregard resulting in him taking Bull Run.

Col Ruby Bradley who is the most decorated Army Nurse served for 34 years, participating in the WWII and the Korean War. More recently, Maj Marie Therese Rossi, she was the first female combat Commander to fly into battle. She paid the ultimate sacrifice when her helicopter crashed in March 1991. Finally, Sgt Leigh Ann Hester who is the first female to receive the Silver Star Medal since World War II. These are only a few examples of woman’s contributions throughout the years, but if they had been there where would we be today. Conclusion

From the days of the Revolutionary War when women disguised themselves as men to fight in the war to today when women are closer than ever to equal treatment as the men they serve alongside of, they have endured through numerous challenges and obstacles. Women battled against sexual harassment and assault, rape, slander and unequal pay and benefits. During the early wars, many underestimated the value of women. Commanders in charge did not want women in their ranks. As time and war, progressed Commanders had a newfound respect for females in their units and would ask for them over the men.

Although the military had become dependent on women to fill the noncombat positions, they immediately discharged them at the war’s end until 1948 when they enlisted in the Regular Army. From this point on women had fought the uphill battle to today in 2012 when congress opened another 14,000 jobs for women closer to the front lines. Through their contributions, sacrifices and determination women’s relevance in the military is clear; they have challenged the norms of society and assisted in the success of the military we know today as the best in the world. References Benedict, H. (2009). The lonely soldier.

Boston, MA: Beacon Press Books. Chronicle of nursing. (2007). Retrieved from http://www. asrn. org/jouranl-chronicle-nursing/207-military-nursing. html Gruhzit-Hoyt, O. (1995). They also served. New York, NY: Carol Publishing Group. Highlights in the history of military women. (n. d. ). Retrieved from www. womensmemorial. org/Education/timeline. html Muir, K. (1992). Arms and the women. London, England: Sinclair-Stevenson Limited. Weatherford, D. (1990). American women and world war II. New York, NY: Facts on File. Women in the U. S. Army. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. army. mil/women/newera. html