| Title: | Topics of Interest to Women |
| Notice: | V3 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open. |
| Moderator: | REGENT::BROOMHEAD |
| Created: | Thu Jan 30 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 30 1995 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1078 |
| Total number of notes: | 52352 |
Does anyone here know the status of "women and the VFW"?
(Note to non-US readers: The VFW is the "Veterans of Foreign
Wars", a support/social group of US military veterans who have
actually served outside of the country during a period of war.
It was started after the Spanish/American war.)
I heard a story on NPR this morning about the VFW and how they
are starting a major push to get the new Gulf vets signed up as
members, but the story never mentioned women and all of the inter-
views were of men. And when I think of VFW members (Stereotype
alert...), the only one I know probably wouldn't be caught dead
letting "girls" into the club if he could help it. He's too busy
hanging out down at the club knocking back a beer or few and tel-
ling jokes about what he calls "<can't_say_that_word_in_Digital>"
or "<can't_say_that_word_in_WN>" or "<probably_can't_say_that_word_
either>" or "pinkos, Commies, and other Democrats".
So, please educate me on two fronts:
o I assume he's not representative of all VFW members, and
o What does the VFW do about women vets of foreign wars?
Atlant
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 738.1 | SA1794::CHARBONND | You're hoping the sun won't rise | Wed Mar 20 1991 08:51 | 3 | |
I know the VFW has a 'women's auxilliary' but I don't know if
a woman veteran is expected to join the 'regular' or 'auxilliary'
organization. Will ask.
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| 738.2 | GAZERS::NOONAN | hugger of the evening | Wed Mar 20 1991 09:01 | 14 | |
My dad is *very* active in the VFW, so I think I am qualified to answer
this for you. (I was also a member of the *blush* auxilliary myself).
*All* vets who have served in specified combat theatres are eligible to
join the VFW. This is a recent (last ~10 years or so) development, and
came about because a lot of the women who had served in M.A.S.H. units
were a little perturbed that they could not join, but the men they
served with could.
However, some reverse descrimination exists, and it is one reason I no
longer belong to the auxilliary. Men who have wives, mothers or sister
in the VFW are *not* allowed to join the auxilliary.
E Grace_who_spent_last_night_working_on_VFW_account_books.
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| 738.3 | I was in the American Legion Jr. Auxilury | EMASS::SKALTSIS | Deb | Thu Mar 21 1991 21:00 | 10 |
> This is a recent (last ~10 years or so) development, and
Interesting that they kept women out for so long. The American Legion
was very active in my home town and for as long as I can remember
(30+ years) the "regular" legion had women members that served in WWII,
they even marched in the memorial day parade in uniform along side
with the men. (Some of these women belonged to both the Legion and the
"Woman's Auxilury, too.)
Deb
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