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Original poster

anyone feel uncomfortable about Military Wives Choir?

263 replies

Bennifer · 19/12/2011 13:20

That?s it really. Although I like the idea that the wives are raising money for charity ~(and that we won't have an X factor number 1), there?s something a little unsettling about the military wives angle I can?t quite put my finger on. Am I overthinking this?

OP posts:
PortBackForChristmas · 19/12/2011 13:42

The men do job x
The women are married to the men that do job x

I assume individually they have more going for them than that...

Original poster
Bennifer · 19/12/2011 13:41

I'm not suggesting I'm saying they shouldn't be allowed to start a choir, I think you might be missing my (admittedly ill-defined) point.

OP posts:
MudAndGlitter · 19/12/2011 13:41

Ok hysterical about this thread was a slight exaggeration but it just seems like a non event.
Of course that is my opinion and I know nothing about feminism.

anastaisia · 19/12/2011 13:41

I see what you're saying. Not sure how I feel but yes, wouldn't a mixed choir have been nice - to recognise that we have military personnel of both genders. I mean some of them might even be in same sex relationships too. Military wives of brave male soldiers have every reason to be proud of their partners and themselves but it IS a bit stereotyped isn't it and seems to make the others a bit less visible....

Original poster
Bennifer · 19/12/2011 13:41

mudandglitter,

I don't want to give the impression I'm hysterical about this, or outraged, just a little uneasy

OP posts:
BluddyMoFo · 19/12/2011 13:40

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yellowraincoat · 19/12/2011 13:40

Who's getting hysterical MudAndGlitter?

sportsfanatic · 19/12/2011 13:40

So what happened to the women who wanted to sing but were not married to their partners?

They were in the choir as well. In the first episode they agreed to the choir name because they wanted to identify with the barracks but singling out girl friends made the name too long. Nobody wanted it to be the WAGS choir (as I recall). Grin

AliBellandthe40jingles · 19/12/2011 13:40

Sardine - in the program there was a bit where they were discussing the name. Gareth said they could call themselves the Military WAGs Choir if they wanted to...

I actually think that it takes a very special kind of woman to be a forces wife, especially at the moment when deployments are regular and dangerous, unlike in the more recent past.

SardineQueen · 19/12/2011 13:40

Bluddy that doesn't make sense though.
Someone upthread said the name is suitable as they are wives.
But if lots of them aren't wives then the whole thing is bizarre.

PortBackForChristmas · 19/12/2011 13:39

I find it a little unsettling too ... and again, can't quite put my finger on why since it's for a good cause and all that. Having said that, i didn't watch the programme - perhaps if i had i would be less uneasy about it all. Perhaps it's the 'wives' bit reminds me too much of 'readers' wives'...

MudAndGlitter · 19/12/2011 13:39

I don't get feminism tbh. I agree with equality for men and women but half the threads on here with people getting hysterical over female choirs and male Morris dancers seems pathetic and only really serves to back up male myths about whinging women.

yellowraincoat · 19/12/2011 13:38

But Cinderfella, isn't that sad? That we are still at a point where men would feel embarrassed about joining something that is "for women"?

It's good you're not offended BluddyMoFo, I'm not offended either. Just here to discuss things.

BluddyMoFo · 19/12/2011 13:38

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Original poster
Bennifer · 19/12/2011 13:37

I suppose what I'm getting at is perhaps is perhaps the recognition of gender stereotypes played out on a mass scale, and following the royal wedding, it reinforces what always was, and always will be, and if we're honest, it's probably what most people are happy with.

I'm not being very eloquent here, and don't take this as an anti-military post.

OP posts:
BluddyMoFo · 19/12/2011 13:37

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SardineQueen · 19/12/2011 13:37

But what happened to women who wanted to sing and were not married?

MudAndGlitter · 19/12/2011 13:36

Why are women second class to men here? They are the ones getting off their arses and doing the song so surely men are second class?

BluddyMoFo · 19/12/2011 13:36

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meditrina · 19/12/2011 13:36

Does anyone know, from a musical point of view, if there are big differences in what you can do with a female voice choir rather than a mixed one? And if so, has at been reflected in what was done here?

Cinderfella · 19/12/2011 13:36

This time last year when it was our regiments on deployment - I knew a lot of female soldiers who were out in Afghanistan but it was mainly wives left at home.

Even if the numbers had been 50/50 without sounding sexist - I can't imagine husbands joining the choir - maybe because 1) it would appear to be something for the wives 2) juggling career and children would not be easy (again true for many of the wives) 3) worried that they would be the token male or would worry that they wouldn't be welcomed.

BluddyMoFo · 19/12/2011 13:36

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yellowraincoat · 19/12/2011 13:35

I'm not really sure why people are getting so aggressive.

MudAndGlitter · 19/12/2011 13:34

Does it really matter? I'm sure there are more serious gender issues in the world than this.

iklboonkey · 19/12/2011 13:33

The men could always form their own choir then couldn't they? You know, like the women did?

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