Military Grade Weaponized Sexism
After completing basic officers’ school and my military occupational specialty (MOS) training in the early 80s, I spent three years in the Far East – Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. I’d do it again in a heartbeat, but there were certainly some interesting aspects (good and bad) to being a young, round-eye female lieutenant in that part of the world at that time.
As an example, my regiment went to the Chor-Won valley in South Korea for a training exercise, and the health, morale, and welfare people (HMW) made sure that we all got at least one chance to visit the shopping mecca that was Itaewon in Seoul. I quickly found out that I was seriously handicapped by my reluctance to haggle. It just wasn’t in my genes, I guess, and I know that I was overcharged for many of my souvenirs.
This is when 2nd Lt Twardowski (not her real name) took me under her wing. She was a stunning, tough-as-nails redhead who had gotten a commission from the enlisted ranks, and if there was anywhere she hadn’t been or anything she hadn’t seen, it would very much surprise me. Watch and learn, she advised as we approached a street vendor peddling a selection of adorable stuffed toys.
Lieutenant: “How much for bear?”
Vendor: “Eight thousand won for beautiful American lieutenant!” *About $5.75.*
Lieutenant: *Shaking her head and looking sorrowful.* “Too much! Two thousand won is all I can pay.”
Vendor: “Oh, beautiful American lieutenant, you are rich officer, you got lots of dollars!”
Lieutenant: *Lowering her voice and speaking confidentially.* “No, I am WOMAN officer. I get HALF of MAN officer pay.”
A bald-faced lie, but unfortunately, in Korea in the 1980s, it made perfect sense. Although her first offer was never accepted, eventually she would get what she wanted for much lower prices than the rest of us could. I never saw her technique fail.
