I recently had a rather interesting conversation with a family member who, unfortunately, has bought off on all that “Boss Chick” bullshit that Hollywood revisionists attempt to rewrite history.
You know, all these Middle Ages flicks showing these ultra-tough chicks going into battle alongside the men? Yeah… that’s quite the rage.
But first, yes, I realize that archeologists have unearthed burial sites of long-dead Viking queens, complete with ceremonial armor and edged-weapons. Just because a minority of these gals were laid to rest with all the accoutrements of war doesn’t mean they were actually warriors.
And yes, I know of Boudica. She was the exception, not the rule. Period.
Anyhow, I stressed to my family member that overwhelmingly, women did not engage in personal or group battle as did the men. The reason was glaringly clear – women were MUCH more important staying home. “Why?” I was asked, quickly followed with “Just so they could say home to have babies!!??”
My response, “Well, yes. Especially if you want your civilization to survive.”
To hammer the point home; let’s go back to 868 AD. In the literal shit-heap that’s your village somewhere in the wilds of the Danelaw, let’s say 10 women all give birth at relatively the same time (maybe York fell nine-months ago, who knows).
Anyhow, all 10 newborns are girls. Of those 10, maybe five will actually reach child birthing age (12 or 13). Of those five, three die while giving birth. The remaining two may live to the ripe old age of 35.
Moral of the story: Men were expendable, women were not.
With that said, allow me to also say that warfare is a man’s job. There’s a reason the male of the species, especially those in their late-teens through their 20s are aggressive as well as thinking they’re indestructible. That whole testosterone thingee.
That’s why I find the latest coming out of the Puzzle Palace (AKA: “Headquarters, Marine Corps“) as so abhorrent. Those Ball-Bearing BAM’s up in DC are trying their level best to short-circuit thousands upon thousands of years’ worth of hardwiring.
Strike one: Young men sure as hell don’t want to hear tales of badassery as told by a motherly voice.
Strike two: Is it just me, or was every shot in this ad showing Marinettes as well as real Marines? Oops. Silly me. No shots of the fairer sex in depictions of a full force amphibious assault nor when Force Recon was splashing through the surf.
Strike three: If those recruiting weenies really wanted to show Marines going “Full Circle”, then why no video crew filming my 63-year-old ass humping 100 pounds on my back, four times a week?