The importance of getting it right !!!
The issue of women re-enacting as a male is always a delicate point. All it takes is the correct frame of mind.
As re-enactors, re-enacting a period of history is something you should endevour to be as accurate as possible within your capability. Therefore when women re-enactors can be seen as "women dressed in a uniform" it's not the ideal portrayal of a soldier from either side of the civil war.
There are men out there that will slate any efforts that a female re-enactor may make, however the women that make more effort find either minimal critisims or none at all. This is due to the fact they "blend" in or can't be picked out as a woman.
Lets look at the real incidents here, women were NOT allowed to sign up for service. Any that managed to, did so under the guise of a man...and it would have to be pretty good one. Those that did so and were found out, were not allowed to stay in ranks, unless the person discovering them kept quiet.
So it's pretty understandable that so many men (and fellow women) are not fond to have "women in uniform". It's only accurate. Yea ok, so it's not accurate to have huge overweight men either...but instead of passing the buck, do something about your own impression so that you are as authentic as you can possible be !
The mentality of re-enactors differs a heck of a lot from the real civil war soldier. |
