As I was digging around the internet for illustrations of mothers of service members claiming to be as tough as their enlisted children (I’ll save that for another post), I found the following “future service member” clothes for children, babies, and even pregnant women:
And a Marine bib/costume:
And a couple maternity shirts:
I have a few thoughts about these.
First, it’s interesting how the shirts (and the many more like them for other family members) enlist family members (and future family members) into military service along with the service member. Each branch of the military is considered a big extended family and members know they are “taken care of” to some extent by each other and by military programs that support the children and partners of those who are serving. Not only does it make practical sense to offer services to families who have a loved one deployed for months and years at a time, but it is also advantageous for the military as families are recognized as a key part of military success. Families are essential and are counted on to provide all kinds of support– from deployment readiness (moving at a moment’s notice etc.), to supplying their loved ones with emotional support, clothes and armor when they are deployed.
The military is also a profession that is often a viable choice for for many young people, and there are many families from strong military traditions– where multiple generations have served. It makes sense, then, that these families have a certain amount of pride in a career that has been in their families for generations. But, many who go into the military end up in combat situations where their lives and personal safety are put at high risk (especially during wartime). So, the idea of handing down the military as a profession doesn’t seem the same then as handing down pride in a university or in a sports team. Isn’t it much different to put a baby in a “future Badgers fan” outfit?
Finally, the pregnancy shirts make me think of how sociologists Nira Yuval-Davis and Cynthia Enloe talk about gendered and militarized citizenship. For Yuval-Davis, one of the primary ways women can be citizens is through reproduction– literally reproducing the people of the nation. Often reproducing soldiers to secure the nation is a part of pro-natalist policies. And Cynthia Enloe writes about the importance of mothers’ support (what she calls “militarized mothers”) for the continued recruitment and support of soldiers: “Militarizing motherhood often starts with conceptualizing the womb as a recruiting station.”
Comments 16
Ramblin Rabbit — April 26, 2009
I just finished reading "Gender and the Sectional Conflict" by Nina Silber. Silber's arguments about the characterization of northern and southern women are directly relevant to this post.
Sabriel — April 27, 2009
I was surprised to see that there was a onesie (is that what they're called?) aimed at little girls that said "future marine."
That is not to contradict your point about the militarization of motherhood. This is a strong example of that.
a westie — April 27, 2009
I think the military should try to discourage parental pressure to enlist on ethical grounds, to keep it entirely volunteer. I prefer the idea of having an army of troops who choose to join the service, rather than troops who were pressured into it by their parents. Parents can be a major influence on a person's future career choice, and that power should not be abused.
I'm also a bit concerned about the nationalist undertones, as this implies the parents already have decided they would be proud to potentially lose their child in combat while fighting for their country. To me, this sounds like placing the nation over the family, which I feel is Orwellian.
I am not trying to insult military families or members of the military, and I greatly appreciate the freedoms they defend. I may not agree with every military action, but I appreciate my rights as an American and understand the necessity of a national defense. It's simply my opinion that when a draft isn't essential to the nation's security, the military should be completely (de jure and de facto) volunteer.
Kristen — April 27, 2009
To understand more fully what military family members go through, I invite you to read my novel, "Homefront" (literary fiction, not pro- or anti-war...just an intimate and private look at waiting for someone you love to survive a war). Wrote it a year after my husband came back from Iraq. (He's out of the Army now.)
I disagree, as well, with recruiting babies into any military service, and there's something a little strange, at times, about the way spouses of the military will assume the role of a military member, and put bumper stickers on their car that read something like "Army wife: hardest job in the military." Extending it to the children, creating a Military Family, is just a natural progression. I doubt they intend to force their child into service...at least, not at a greater rate then parents who try to push their kids into being doctors or lawyers or whatever other job the parents have.
On the other hand, "intending" to push offspring into the military, and doing it with the power of suggestion and subtle influences over time, can have the same effect, obviously. And no, no one should dictate their child's future, overtly or subtly.
(It should be mentioned that joining the military has only periods of danger. Right now, a joiner is likely to be deployed to a dangerous region. For a long time, however, that wasn't as likely. A military member could have expected to learn survival skills and discipline, have job security, be given the opportunity to go to college for free, etc.)
SarahMC — April 27, 2009
Those are really disturbing.
Dubi — April 27, 2009
A very interesting post. I would like to offer a counterexample to the link you offer between these shirts and Yuval-Davis and Enloe's ideas. Both these concepts, of "the womb as a weapon" and the crucial function of mothers as support for soldiers in perpetuating the nation, exist in Israel. And yet, I have never seen anything like these shirts.
This, in a place where a good majority of secular (and of some parts of the religious population) Jewish children will eventually be drafted. Maybe it's because it ISN'T a voluntary thing in Israel that parents don't really want to declare their children "future soldiers". Maybe it's because military service in the US is still perceived as relatively harmless - we hear of soldiers being killed, but the numbers are still relatively low and one can hardly say everyone in the US has known a fallen soldiers. This is not true in Israel (commemorating Remembrance Day tomorrow, btw), where if none of your family has ever fallen in war, then you have a friend who did. Maybe, counter to what your penultimate paragraph says, for most Americans military service still isn't perceived as a very dangerous line of work. And, frankly, they might be right, in the long run. I wonder what's the fatality rate among US soldiers in comparison with other dangerous lines of work.
Orientalista — April 28, 2009
Actually, I remember seeing many "Future IDF" onesies and shirts for toddlers in Jerusalem.
Dubi — April 28, 2009
Really? I lived in Jerusalem for several years and never saw any, not worn by anyone and not for sale.
Maybe we go with different crowds...
hypatia — April 28, 2009
I'm having trouble dealing with this one.
On one side I am completely with the idea of being proud of one's country and being proud to serve that country.
However on the flip side, as an aunt and possible future parent I want kids growing up in a world where there is no real need for large standing armies as the system operates now.
livininphilly — April 28, 2009
This topic obviously brings up a lot of emotions for people. I was raised a military kid (navy brat!) and I actually received some of this paraphernalia. I have a doll, at my parent’s house, that is an infant girl in a sailor’s uniform. My first necklace was an anchor to show support for my dad. There is a picture of my mother in maternity sailor's uniform while she is 7 mos. pregnant with me. Growing up I received a navy Barbie doll, anchor earrings, military sister sweatshirt (my little brother currently serves in the navy) and several pictures of the aircraft carriers my father served on.
In a lot of ways it makes perfect sense to me to have things like this for children or spouses of military personnel. Growing up in the military is a very unique experience that many people share. When I try to explain what it was like to people including the fact that my father missed every single Halloween from when I can remember to 8 years old and the constant having to start over in a new place I get all sorts of reactions. I tend to get a lot of side-eyes when I say that I almost chose that same path for myself. What it is that when you are growing up in the military your immediate family is seriously all you have and is the one constant in the endless "pick up and start a new life" cycle. My family was lucky b/c my father had relatively long tours (4 years), some families I know moved every 1-2 years. I have lived all over the country b/c of this and haven't had a chance to really get to know my extended family. I am immensely proud of my father, little brother, 3 grandfathers and 2 uncles (all from both sides) who served and would love to do what they did. More importantly though I am even more proud of my mother (grew up in and then married military) and both of my grandmothers for all that they had to endure as spouses and children. Without their experiences I wouldn’t be here today.
The commitment of military families is very big. The entire family is enlisted, not just the personnel b/c people are asked to give up a lot that people not in the military take for granted. When my brother gets married (soon we hope) his wife and their children will potentially be asked to leave all they know and hold dear and move halfway around the world so that the rights people in this country have can continue and they will also be asked to put their lives on the line. There will always be people who are proud of it and may actually hope that their children will do the same.
In my family the other source of pride is that the military provided a way out. A way out of poverty and the opening of doors and opportunities that previously were not there.
“So, the idea of handing down the military as a profession doesn’t seem the same then as handing down pride in a university or in a sports team.”
To me this quote stinks a little of classism. How does one hand down pride in a university if they didn’t even graduate high school? The sports team I can get with but the university raises my trigger just a little. Please remember that for some people the only way they could even begin to dream about college was through signing up for the military. I am the first person in my family to go to a 4-year institute of higher learning straight from high school but I received scholarships b/c my dad was enlisted. My great-grandfather finished high school through the military. My father was able to get his BA and MBA through his service and my little brother is planning on using the G.I. bill. For some families the military may be the only option for their little one to get into school, so why not a onesie that says “future marine”?
I say all this not b/c your analysis is incorrect. I just wanted to bring to the table another perspective on the issue.
wendy — April 28, 2009
@livininphilly re: classism
First, thanks for sharing your experiences! My dissertation is about military families, and I've really come to appreciate the great sacrifices made on the homefront.
The examples I gave do sound classist now that I read them again, and that was completely unintentional. I was just trying to think of the kinds of things people dress their babies in-- and as I am in a university town, the first things I thought of were those onesies seen on football game days that say "future badger" or "future UW alumn." I'm sure there are similar baby clothes for nearly every sports team, occupation etc.
Village Idiot — April 28, 2009
Hmm, so those "One shot, two kills" shirts that were posted and discussed on this blog a while back are not so sick and twisted after all; if you declare your child (or fetus) a future soldier, well then they're fair game for the enemy snipers, aren't they?
I thought the phrase "War is Hell" supposedly meant that war was Hell, so why is there so much apparent enthusiasm to send kids to Hell?
livininphilly — April 29, 2009
Thanks Wendy, I appreciate you clarifying that point. I atually thought this was a good piece and I would love to hear more about your dissertation. Growing up in the military and now being a civilian feels a little like having lived in two different worlds. Especially since the world of my childhood is now closed off to me b/c I am no longer a dependant nor am I in the military and I have no plans of being a spouse (barred from that b/c they don't recognize my relationships). I used to be able to drive past my childhood home and visit the hospital where I was born. I cannot do that anymore but my parent's and little brother can. Sometimes it's frustrating, but if military kids aren't good at anything else we sure are good at packing up the past and moving on.
Good luck with your dissertation!
Look at the future soldier! « The Gender Blender Blog — April 29, 2009
[...] Look at the future soldier! 29 04 2009 I saw these images of baby clothing on Sociological Images: [...]
lisa — May 25, 2009
The flip side? I am a Marine, 2 of my 3 children are currently serving---one male, one female---both will go or have been in harm's way. I wear Marine Mom t-shirts---though my daughter and I tend to wear shirts that say "It isn't an attitude, we really are that good" when we are out together.
They weren't indoctrinated into a belief except that I truly believe that the franchise should be limited to those willing to give a significant part of their life to the country. How exactly is it that you want to govern a country that doesn't mean enough to you to give 4 years of your life to it's service?
Lindsey (ArmyWIfe4Life) — September 9, 2009
My husband left for the Army two weeks after we were married, he is still gone after 6 months. we were trying to conveive when he left, i ended up pregnant the day before he swore in. I didn't know until three weeks after he left and only knew because i had a miscarriage. I didn't tell him while he was in BCT, i waited until i went to watch him graduate. I do not like being away from him and i wish he would be done with training already. i hate his job for him. I am proud but unhappy i feel like the girl in the old war stories that "pines" for her lover, LOL, to be exact. I am getting ready in January to leave with him and i believe i am in for a whole new world when we get to where we are going. I made him promise me to never pressure our hopefully future children into joining the military just because he did. I want my children to decide their own futures, and as much as i HURT now i don't ever want them to hurt like this.