USO sends female soldiers make up, Cosmo


Jill Biden and Rep. Nancy Pelosi fill care packages for female soldiers with things like make up and Cosmopolitan magazine.

Okay.  Really?

[T]here is the Maybelline mascara, and the lipstick in light pink and burgundy. Mineral makeup. Tampons. A Lady Speed Stick. A botanical facial bar. Eye masks.

Also, a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine with headlines like “8 Things Guys Notice Instantly,” “Hot New Party Dresses” and “Mind Tricks That Melt Pounds.”

And a camouflage makeup bag.

A pink one.

The USO recently sent out care packages specifically for female
soldiers (the first time the organization has singled out women)
deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Giants of politics, including Jill Biden and Nancy
Pelosi, gathered in Arlington to stuff the care packages in November.
And giants of the beauty industry — including the Benchmarking Co.,
Avon, Jane Iredale and Nick Chavez Beverly Hills — sponsored the
effort, donating money and products.

“These are female-centric,”
Sheila Casey, wife of Army chief of staff Gen. George W. Casey, said in
front of the cameras at the event. “In it we have creams and soaps and
lipsticks and magazines and things that are great for women.”

Okay, I think it’s great that folks are starting to recognize that
women are serving in the military – but is the kind of recognition they
need really about Cosmo and mascara? 

Obviously, I’m not saying female soldiers shouldn’t wear makeup or
like women’s mags – I don’t care what folks do in that regard. But
setting up a press conference showing Jill Biden and Rep. Nancy Pelosi
stuffing bags with makeup just rubs me the wrong way. It’s a
wink-wink-nudge-nudge moment that tells people even though these women
are in the military, they’re still feminine…we promise! 

I want us to pay more attention to the needs of female soldiers. 
How about we start with the horrific rates of sexual assault or the
discrimination women face in the military?  Then we can get to the pink
makeup bags.

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