Exactly, the late 80s, early 90s was when many nations officially dropped their bans on gay service members. I was thinking about that, too, while reading the book.
I believe there is a cultural difference. The US military is far more socially backward than that of other western industrial nations.
The US is the only Western industrial nation to still have a ban, and it's been the slowest to integrate women into male-only worlds such as aircraft carriers and submarines. The combination of homophobia and homoeroticism is strongest in the navy, which has had the highest percentage of discharges for homosexuality since DADT went into effect.
It's not addressed in this book, but in "Conduct Unbecoming" homophobia becomes clearer as a tool to oppress and marginalize female service members, who are discharged for homosexuality at a shockingly higher rate. Personally, I believe the armed forces clings to DADT as a way to ensure male supremacy in the army. Zeeland's theory may have a role, but I don't think it's a big one.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-06-28 08:43 pm (UTC)I believe there is a cultural difference. The US military is far more socially backward than that of other western industrial nations.
The US is the only Western industrial nation to still have a ban, and it's been the slowest to integrate women into male-only worlds such as aircraft carriers and submarines. The combination of homophobia and homoeroticism is strongest in the navy, which has had the highest percentage of discharges for homosexuality since DADT went into effect.
It's not addressed in this book, but in "Conduct Unbecoming" homophobia becomes clearer as a tool to oppress and marginalize female service members, who are discharged for homosexuality at a shockingly higher rate. Personally, I believe the armed forces clings to DADT as a way to ensure male supremacy in the army. Zeeland's theory may have a role, but I don't think it's a big one.