Leisa D Meyer
In May of 1942, the establishment of the Women Auxiliary Air Force (Waac) was women�s formal entry into the military. While this paralleled the thrust of women into the civilian work force, it still faced many issues. Among these were the sexual stereotypes of women as �camp followers�, as �mannish women�, as prostitutes, and as lesbians. This raised the challenge of promoting women as soldiers, which lead to the creation of a new category that showed them s sexually respectable and feminine. There was also the issue of not �threatening� the sexual norms. Hence forth, women were portrayed as chaste and asexual. Most prominent of these issues was the fact that the male portion of the military felt threatened. This stemmed from the belief by many that the military was the ultimate test of masculinity.
There was also the task of addressing public fears and concern. One being that the female presence in the military would lead to a break down of heterosexual norms and sexual morality. Another was the fear that the Waacs had been created to be an organized cadre of prostitutes for male GI�s. There was also the concern that an entirely female environment would lead to or promote homosexuality.
In response, Col Hobby organized a plan to assure the anxious public. Women would not lose there femininity. In fact, women soldiers would chaste, asexual, and ideally middle class. They would also be acting in loco parentis, meaning they would be guardian of female morality and welfare. Col Hobby hoped to attract �high-quality� women. This was emphasized by the higher educational requirement for women than for men. These ideals were reinforced by propaganda that highlighted the femininity of Wac/Waac recruits. They stressed the sexual attractiveness of these women to men and assured the American public that they weren�t �Amazons�.
This framework was undermined by the army hierarchy�s attempt to regulate and control women�s sexuality and sexual behavior in the same way they did men. Their main reason for doing so was to control the spread of venereal disease. The main problem with this was that the venereal disease program for men assumed heterosexual activity. By applying it to women they were damaging the corpse�s reputation and undermining the effort to portray Wac/Waacs as sexless, not sexual.
Col Hobby�s strategy of moral suasion often clashed with the US Surgeon General�s attempts to institute a system of chemical prophylaxis. This system called for instruction in sexual education and the distribution of condoms in latrines. Hobby argued that this plan would place the Waac�s acceptance, both military and civilian, on the line. It would damage their reputation and hamper recruitment, as well. All in all, Col Hobby was more concerned with creating an air of respectability for the Waacs. Social hygiene pamphlets were given out that promoted chastity as the �high standard� of morality. This combined with the strict enlistment standards was hoped to ensure a respectable image. This gave rise to a sexual double standard. In fact, Waacs could be discharged for �illicit sexual activity� but it was expected and often encouraged for men.
Another problem faced were the slander campaigns against the WAAC and the WAC. These campaigns, known as �whisper campaigns�, started in mid 1943. One of the first incidents was an article written about condoms being distributed to women. This led to a resurgence of outcry about sexual immorality in the women�s corpse. Another incident occurred when male servicemen and officers started rumors because they resented women�s entrance into the military. This rose from the fact that many servicemen were unsure of the purpose and the function of the women�s corpse.
Often there was a solid effort made by the Army to control women�s sexual behavior. This can be seen in Port Moresby in New Guinea. The Wacs here were locked in a barb wire compound and were not allowed to leave it unless to train and even then not without an armed guard. They were allowed no leave, passes, or one-couple dates. Many of the women complained of being treated as criminals and children. Often it was referred to as a �concentration camp system�. In response Col Hobby filed a complaint to the War Department, but was told there was nothing they could do, the decision was up to the theater command. The most common way this kind of system was justified was through the use of societal stereotypes about African Americans and male sexuality. They were providing the maximum amount of �protection� and supervision.
In late 1944 rumors of widespread homosexuality reached the ears of Col Hobby. The accusation was than made that the theater�s policies created the ideal habitat for homosexuality to row. Hobby sent Lt Col Mary Brown to investigate the rumors. She discovered that while homosexuality was not as wide spread as originally believed it did happen. She claimed it was accented by the lifestyle the women had to live. She also stated that it was important to protect women from homosexuality.
At that time Army regulation provided for the undesirable discharge of homosexuals. This was rarely used in the WAC save in extreme situations. The main reason for this was that Hobby thought the proceedings would draw to much negative attention. Due to this, other methods of discipline were used. Most of them were referred to as informal methods of control. They included personal and room assignment shifting, transfers, and providing corpse members with opportunities to socialize with men. WAC policy also prohibited women from dancing in couples in public and encouraged no �mannish� hairstyles.
Though a lesbian culture did develop, it was fraught with peril. This was seen at the wars end when lesbians were purged from the military.