"... fears about gays in uniform are real - because they go to the heart of warrior culture and of masculinity.
Young men and women join the military for numerous reasons, the Pentagon's many surveys show. First and second are, respectively, getting the military to pay for college and acquiring skills valued in the civilian workforce. Next come the larger motivations, such as patriotism, self-sacrifice and being part of a cause greater than themselves.
But another reason that male troops sign up and that they talk about in their more reflective moments is to prove their masculinity. This has been true since hunter-gatherer days, when a warrior facing death was the ultimate proof of courage and, yes, maleness. Joining the military is a rite of passage and a sign of maturation. Serving in uniform signifies the transition from adolescent boy into the brotherhood of adult men.
Straight soldiers and Marines who have a few years under their belts, and have done a combat tour or two, will more readily talk about this. They often say they enlisted in part because they wanted to prove to someone - maybe a father, their family or a sweetheart, but most often to themselves - that they were brave men willing to suffer the consequences of their adult decisions, even if that included death. That is one of the essences of masculinity, they have said in interviews.
But the scores of gay servicemen I have interviewed over the years express an identical desire to prove their strength, courage and masculinity. It isn't about proving sexual prowess, both straight and gay troops say, but about adulthood and, ultimately, male virtue..."
No comments:
Post a Comment