ABSTRACT
Shared understandings of masculine and feminine have influenced the war-making process. In turn, the experiences of war have helped shape the concepts of gender. This chapter deals with World War II, a conflict that clearly reinforced a strong sense of masculinity among soldiers. The war instilled a strong sense of national purpose and in the process helped restore American masculinity. Not all the men who fought could withstand combat fatigue, a psychological syndrome now called post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The war effort mobilized society and shaped many of its core structures, including gender roles. The unorthodox gender role of warrior poses a distinct personal challenge to individual women and creates cultural conflict for the rest of society. A majority of the public appears to accept women, not only in the military as a whole, but also in positions that could put them in harm's way. Dahomey remains the only known example of a female fighting force.
