“Vaught broke her fair share of glass ceilings. She was the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber wing. She was promoted to brigadier general in 1980, and when she retired five years later, she was only one of seven female generals or admirals in all the armed forces. But in close to 30 years of military service, she never had to fire a gun. In fact, she got her brother-in-law to teach her how to use one because the Air Force wouldn't. But today, hundreds of thousands of women have served in wars with no clear front lines, often caught up in direct combat. Vaught wonders aloud, ‘If I were in the military today, would I be able to do these things? I would like to think I would, but I don't know, because, you know, the challenges are just so great. It's a different military. It really is.’”
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/23/133966767/general-remembers-her-different-military-days
I think virtually all of us can agree that the 1950s-era attitudes toward women in the military were wrong. Women are capable of doing much more than sitting pretty and being charming.
And as for the idea voiced by members of Congress that women shouldn't be allowed to become generals because by the time they were in their 50s they'd be in menopause and making irrational decisions... well... what I want to say can't be printed. I'll let women like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann say what needs to be said about mature women in leadership roles.
I guess I'm glad I didn't live back then since I'd be accused of being a liberal for saying women should have the right to choose whatever careers they want as long as they can meet the standards to do the job.
Problem is that standards are across the board watered down so women can appear to make the grade. All across the board. Plus having certain numbers to be filled with women. Totally bad. It can’t be fixed without being dismantled.