WOMEN IN THE MILITARY: WILLING, ABLE, ESSENTIAL I. Introduction TABLE OF CONTENTS II. Film Outline III. Quiz IV. Lesson #1: Introduction to Women in the Military V. Lesson #2: Historical Look at Women in the Military VI. Lesson #3: Rosie the Riveter: What s My Line? VII. Lesson #4: Women in the Military and Technology VIII. Lesson #5: Women in the Military: Interview Project 1
Introduction to Women in the Military Willing, Able, Essential Movie: Lesson Plans and Materials The Movie Since America's founding days, women have been stepping forward to serve this country. From uncommon soldiers who disguised themselves to fight and nurses that faced horrific would to those who proudly wear the uniform today, women have always contributed to our military might. This is their story. It's a tale of war and peace... a quest for status and recognition... a patriotic journey to protect the freedoms we all cherish. The Curriculum There are five lesson plans, ten handouts, one quiz, one power point are created to accompany the movie, Women in the Military: Willing, Able and Essential. The lessons have been written to include national teaching standards from the areas of United States history, government and civics, and economics. Our lesson plans and materials also fit very nicely into a sociology or gender studies classroom as well. Throughout the lesson plans, you will find that we have purposely integrated cognitive, skill and affective objectives. Because we believe that students should take an active part in learning history, critical thinking skills are emphasized throughout the lesson plan series. The procedures in the lesson plan give the history educator suggestions on how to mix both traditional (content-centered) and progressive (student-centered) teaching methodologies. Numerous Ways to Incorporate This Curriculum into your Classroom The materials have been created to use as one unit or as stand-alone lessons. The power point presentation, for example, is created with full knowledge that slides will be deleted and added based upon an individual instructor s needs. It is our hope that each educator will easily be able to pick and choose which activities are most appropriate for their classroom. 2
Women in the Military: Willing, Able, Essential Movie Outline Part 1: I. Introduction a. Women have fought to serve the country since its founding b. Disguised to fight c. Nurses d. Present day e. Rights and obligations of citizenship II. The Early Years a. Revolutionary War i. Many women followed male family members into war 1. Too poor to live on own ii. Cooks and laundresses free men to fight on field iii. Nurses iv. Molly Pitcher 1. Women would carry water to soldiers and cool cannons between fire 2. Mary Ludwig Hays battle of Monmouth i. Husband struck down took his place at the cannon as rammer 3. Deborah Sampson Robert Shurtliff i. disguised herself to fight as a male soldier ii. fought for 3 years before being wounded 1. upon discovery was honorably discharged b. Civil War i. Went to war to take care of domestic chores ii. Patriotism, adventure, opportunity iii. Nurses 1. Many of them African Americans 2. Helped to supply hospitals and hospital ships 3. Clara Barton a. American Red Cross 4. Dr. Mary Walker a. Commissioned as a surgeon in the Civil War i. Eventually captured and held as a POW ii. Only woman to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor 5. Sarah Edmunds & Loretta Valaquez a. Fought as male soldiers 3
III. b. 400 disguised women would fight 6. Harriet Tubman former slave a. Led slaves to northern freedom b. Also served as a nurse, Union scout, and spy 7. Women as spies a. Belle Boyd, Rose Greenhow confederate spies b. Pauline Cushman union spy i. Caught and escaped iv. Nursing schools begin to train women c. Involvement in other military actions i. Tropical climates brought new need for nurses 1. Spanish rule in Caribbean and Pacific islands 2. Spanish American War a. Hospital ships b. Many women physicians were forced to serve as nurses c. Horrible living conditions typhoid, yellow fever d. Women serves as volunteers ii. Conflicts enhanced view of women as valued professionals d. Women officially serve as members of the armed forces i. Army Nurse Corps 1901 ii. Navy Nurse Corps 1908 The World Wars a. Opportunities i. Mass education and office work ii. Allowed independence and an increase in sufficiency for women b. World War I i. Women join the Navy in force as yomenettes ii. Marionettes joined the Marine Corp as reserves freeing up men to go to war iii. Over 10,000 Army nurses would be sent overseas 1. Witnesses to warfare (on the front lines) chemical gases, injured soldiers 2. Shortages of surgeons led 56 women to be contracted big step forward in recognition iv. Women still do not have right to vote c. World War II i. In the military 1. Following Pearl Harbor America mobilizes Army/Navy nurses answer to call 2. Some already stationed in Philippines are left as POWs 4
ii. On the home front 1. Women filled the factories as men were drafted to serve 2. Rosie the Riveter a. Fueled war production effort worked on machinery and weapons 3. 1942 WAAC (Women s Army Auxiliary Corp)/WAC (Women s Army Corp) a. Free A Man To Fight b. Segregated i. Officer Martha Putney send to back of train while trying to get to an army base iii. Roles 1. Women began to fill many non-traditional roles a. Parachute rigging b. top secret projects such as the computer c. fly girls test flew planes, flew targets for practice, etc 2. Women fill every role except that of combat iv. Deployment 1. Eisenhower asks women to fill clerical roles in war theaters 2. Evacuate soldiers from costly battles i.e., Iwo Jima support soldiers mentally and physically (LT Katherine Van Wagner) v. Post WWII 1. Women return home to resume traditional roles yet enjoy a bit more freedom and independence Part 2 I. The Cold War a. 1948 all military women are given permanent status within the armed forces i. Integration Act served as a basis for the mobilization of women ii. Korea i. Nurses used in field camps put in danger and forced to evacuate with the troops a. Heroically braved battle fire and primitive living conditions to care for the troops b. Once again assume a role in which allowed men to be free to fight ii. American society had changed a. No longer did the country feel patriotic towards warfare in Korea as they had in WWII b. Active recruiting began to take place 5
i. Women were kept away from the military by being excluded from the mainstream military, an all male draft, and unfriendly family policies ii. High recruiting standards with emphasis on femininity II. Vietnam i. Men were drafted nurses needed ii. Nurses were unprepared and overwhelmed with the conditions in Vietnam iii. Advancements in equipment and techniques aided in saving many lives a. Helicopter helped to evacuate patients b. Large quantities of blood and antibiotics iv. Women began receiving promotions v. War became unpopular a. Those involved would not receive recognition at home b. 1993 - Vietnam Women s Memorial III. Changing Times 1970s a. The draft ends all voluntary military i. Military manpower needs ii. Quest for greater equality i. Female participation in the armed forces soars b. Women s Movement i. Many restrictions removed more options for women in the service ii. Skills open, jobs open female cadets were admitted to the service iii. Women enter mainstream military i. Trend to move towards more unconventional jobs ii. Become vital to military success c. Grenada and Panama i. Signal first successful employment of integrated troops IV. Desert Storm a. Iraq invades Kuwait i. Large scale deployment of women in the military i. General (Dr.) Rhonda Cornum survivor of Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down ii. Showed that American public would accept the idea that women could be captured or killed in times of war a. Balanced by the exceptional performance of the women serving in the military ii. Women prove to be highly capable asset to the military V. 9/11 The War on Terror i. Many called upon to fight terror in Middle East 6
i. Watkins son follows mother into war ii. Vernice Armour first female African American combat pilot iii. Sgt. Lee Ann Hester first female awarded the Silver Star ii. Women still excluded from direct combat roles i. Enemy fire can happen anywhere anytime iii. Today not sharp distinction between men and women i. Both leaders, soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines ii. Major Megan McClung killed in roadside bomb a. Women making the ultimate sacrifice i. Die serving a cause they believe in VI. Women s Memorial - Arlington National Cemetery a. Bravery, courage, honor, patriotism b. 2.5 million women past/present 7