WaPo: Ending gender discrimination on Navy subs is scary for the mens

The U.S. Navy is planning to allow women to serve on its submarines for the first time by the end of 2011. The announcement came at the same time as news that cigarettes will be banned on subs. And of course the Washington Post continued their practice of completely ignoring the real story, that the Navy’s ending a particular history of discrimination, and reporting from the point of view of people with more relative power and privilege:

“Imagine 150 fraternity brothers packed into a container the size of a three-bedroom house. Announce you are breaking hallowed traditions by taking away their cigarettes and admitting women. Then lock the doors and push the container deep into the sea, for months at a time.”

Oh no, lady people and clean air, I feel so bad for the mens!

WaPo goes on to talk about how subs are a boy’s club, which I guess is a good thing according to reporter Craig Whitlock, and about how crews are resistant to bringing women on board. Because when a discriminatory practice ends it’s important to center the perspective of those who never experienced the discrimination?

The way WaPo talks about the cigarette ban and inclusion of women makes the two feel oddly connected, as if smoking must be banned because it offends delicate lady soldier sensibilities. And the story somehow manages to connect this all to repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, apparently yet another attack on straight male soldiers.

The more I talk with queer folks who were in the military the more ridiculous it seems to me to center the angst of homophobic straight folks over the rights of gay soldiers to be themselves. Centering the concerns of male soldiers over those of the women who will finally be allowed to do this job seems just as absurd.

Especially since I think both concerns are incredibly over hyped. I’ve been told a lot of enlisted personnel would prefer that honesty is allowed among soldiers and no one has to hide their sexuality or pretend they don’t know someone else is gay. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus says he’s getting little or no resistance to allowing women to serve on subs.

And if male troops really are complaining? Well, they need to get over it. You just don’t whine about ending a discriminatory practice.

You can contact writer Craig Whitlock here to let him know how you think a story about ending gender discrimination should be reported.