Do different uniform styles segregate women?

PO2 Alfredo Pacheco — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:17:47 -0400

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/05/20/navy-secretary-ray-mabus-dress-uniforms-women/27643839/?hootPostID=%5B%27e76c207f1b2a215a4048f18cead661f9%27%5D

SECNAV: Different uniform styles segregate women

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told an audience Wednesday that gender-specific uniform styles segregate sailors.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 3:18 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:18:11 -0400

Segregation seems to be the hot topic right now. I think that if you honestly asked servicemembers you would find no one really gives two craps...lol

Perhaps we should all wear gray blobs so that no one is different from anyone else.

Response by PO2 Alfredo Pacheco made May 20 at 2015 3:22 PM

PO2 Alfredo Pacheco — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:22:23 -0400

I'm seeing mixed reviews about this. I know when my wife was in, she didn't like some of the female uniforms because they did not fit properly.

As reported in the Navy Times article:

"As part of this, women are now set to wear service dress blue jumpers, the Dixie cup, choker whites and much else instead of the separate styles that women have worn for decades.But some have questioned the top-down push, which has received a mixture of reactions."

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 20 at 2015 3:33 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:33:24 -0400

While it makes one a bit more aware of the gender differences, especially in dress uniforms, segregating them, No.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2015 4:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:05:16 -0400

Uniform styles do not isolate. They may identify or bring to light genders, but by that logic so does the hairstyle differences.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 12:13 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 00:13:48 -0400

I don't think they segregate women. It's a uniform. It's uniform. I would complain that more often than not they aren't flattering(?) Towards the female physique, in particular the dress uniform skirt or dress. Apparently, in trying to find a happy medium between professional, martial, ceremonial, and retaining some semblance of femininity, someone inserted Victorian era matronhood.
Unfortunately, other than just removing the skirt/dress, I don't have any idea how to fix it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 12:29 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 May 2015 00:29:25 -0400

Maybe we should require women with shaved heads or men with longer hair. Maybe we should have our females not wear hearings or maybe we should allow males to do so. I see alter the cut of the uniforms but keep them looking different. I hope I didn't come off as negative because that is not my intention.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 21 at 2015 12:49 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 21 May 2015 00:49:26 -0400

Let's go ahead and make restrooms co ed including showers. Everything must be equal; just not the parts we decide on.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made May 21 at 2015 1:03 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Thu, 21 May 2015 13:03:19 -0400

Yes, they do. Different uniforms are a contradiction in terms. Either we're all the same or we aren't. Set one standard for uniforms, describe in regulation permissible (minor) alterations for inherent body differences. They need to be as similar as humanly possible.

One uniform, one standard, one set of missions and specialties, one team one fight. Discipline, Unity, Mission Accomplishment.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 1:07 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 13:07:01 -0400

Personally I would love to have the traditional male uniforms simply tailored to fit me and my body well, not only is the current women's dress uniform terrible it's also significantly more expensive from the cover to the jacket. And I do think in some ways it does promote segregation, like we're a different part of the unit than the guys. Add in completely different regs for ribbons medals ect. and it's just an unneeded mess!

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Sep 19 at 2015 8:32 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 20:32:44 -0400

Lol. Maybe we should have a unisex uniform. One haircut for all, so no one fells segregated. And there will be the same number of women and men in any rank.