Things I Find Disturbing:
Dec. 5th, 2009 10:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eumeliaShe's a Combat Soldier - no more, no less.
It disturbs me to read about these "extraordinary" women for two reasons: #1 it implies that Feminism has succeeded and that we are now free to rest on our laurels and #2 that joining the "boy's club" is a feminist action.
The IDF is possibly one of the most sexist institutions in the country - women officers are not rare, but it's certainly not a 50-50 split when it comes to gender demographics (I do not want to even get into the ethnicity issue, yowza!).
First of all, it's a hierarchical institution that relies on forced labour.
Second of all, like in most major institutions the farther up you go, the less women there are.
Third of all, implying that women are treated exactly the same as men in combat units is a blatant lie. Women conform to the macho ethos of the combat unit. I'm not kidding, those young women are probably the most sexist I've ever met - do I blame them? About as much as I blame the men who enforce that ethos on everyone.
It's the military.
That's how it works.
Also, when it comes down to it; the only places I've heard of a guy being a receptionist, admin assistant or social work officer has been in the Ultra Orthodox units in which women are verboten - yes, there are units in which women are verboten.
A great feminist paradise the IDF is.
When I read this:
Bull. Shit.
I'm positive she believes this. She wouldn't say it if she didn't. Honestly, more power to her for finding herself successful in a cesspool of corrupting power and questionable ethics.
Regardless, no, the field is not an even level, there are not that many women where she is to begin with - in order for her to garner as much authority over the soldiers she does have to prove that she is as good as a man.
That's the standard.
I feel like bashing my head when I read or hear these idiotic, semi-pedagogical, ideology-spewing nonsense.
I served my two years and learned a lot about how to get what I wanted - be loud, obnoxious, nagging and if you want to stay out of trouble, lie low.
I find the callous use of a success story that promotes the false idea of gender equality in this country, while at the same time vilifying "draft dodgers" the majority of them women - utterly utterly disgusting and disturbing.
The other thing I find disturbing is this:
Fundamentalists Tied to Uganda's Antigay Law.
Uganda’s Radical Anti-Gay Measure and the American Religious Right.
Anti-Gay Ugandan Bill Set to Pass. Warren Silent.
Honestly? Is there anything I need to say that makes this picture any clearer.
American Pastors are calling for a genocide of gays in Uganda.
No.
I'm not exaggerating.
These are things I find disturbing.
Do you?
Footnotes
* There's a huge moral panic about the fact that huge swathes of the population are not being drafted. The majority of those not drafted are actually simply rejected by the IDF for various reasons - they are then persecuted for not being "decent citizens" for not serving their time for the country - forced labour, I mention.
Back to text.
It disturbs me to read about these "extraordinary" women for two reasons: #1 it implies that Feminism has succeeded and that we are now free to rest on our laurels and #2 that joining the "boy's club" is a feminist action.
The IDF is possibly one of the most sexist institutions in the country - women officers are not rare, but it's certainly not a 50-50 split when it comes to gender demographics (I do not want to even get into the ethnicity issue, yowza!).
First of all, it's a hierarchical institution that relies on forced labour.
Second of all, like in most major institutions the farther up you go, the less women there are.
Third of all, implying that women are treated exactly the same as men in combat units is a blatant lie. Women conform to the macho ethos of the combat unit. I'm not kidding, those young women are probably the most sexist I've ever met - do I blame them? About as much as I blame the men who enforce that ethos on everyone.
It's the military.
That's how it works.
Also, when it comes down to it; the only places I've heard of a guy being a receptionist, admin assistant or social work officer has been in the Ultra Orthodox units in which women are verboten - yes, there are units in which women are verboten.
A great feminist paradise the IDF is.
When I read this:
According to Boldesko, many girls know that the integrating into field positions will advance their development in the military. "There is no competition of who is better and who isn't. Today a girl enlists into a combat unit and knows that all the options are open to her, even in commanding combat battalions. There are no easy breaks. In the field, we all get dusty, get wet in the rain, and get full of mud and grease.Emphasis mine
Bull. Shit.
I'm positive she believes this. She wouldn't say it if she didn't. Honestly, more power to her for finding herself successful in a cesspool of corrupting power and questionable ethics.
Regardless, no, the field is not an even level, there are not that many women where she is to begin with - in order for her to garner as much authority over the soldiers she does have to prove that she is as good as a man.
That's the standard.
When the issue of draft dodging* kept making its way into headlines, it was difficult not to bring up the issue. "The IDF is the best school for civilian life. You can always delay studying, a trip abroad, or other things. The experience of military service is not forgotten by any young man or woman.Emphasis mine.
I feel like bashing my head when I read or hear these idiotic, semi-pedagogical, ideology-spewing nonsense.
I served my two years and learned a lot about how to get what I wanted - be loud, obnoxious, nagging and if you want to stay out of trouble, lie low.
I find the callous use of a success story that promotes the false idea of gender equality in this country, while at the same time vilifying "draft dodgers" the majority of them women - utterly utterly disgusting and disturbing.
The other thing I find disturbing is this:
Fundamentalists Tied to Uganda's Antigay Law.
Uganda’s Radical Anti-Gay Measure and the American Religious Right.
Anti-Gay Ugandan Bill Set to Pass. Warren Silent.
Honestly? Is there anything I need to say that makes this picture any clearer.
American Pastors are calling for a genocide of gays in Uganda.
No.
I'm not exaggerating.
These are things I find disturbing.
Do you?
Footnotes
* There's a huge moral panic about the fact that huge swathes of the population are not being drafted. The majority of those not drafted are actually simply rejected by the IDF for various reasons - they are then persecuted for not being "decent citizens" for not serving their time for the country - forced labour, I mention.
Back to text.
