sometimes it stinks to be a girl

[MsReese]

Ok, I have a quick question, At national reenactments why do they require that no women be in a military camp at night? now I know that we are trying to remain as period as possible, but in all reality we are in 2005, and there are not spectators around at night usually. Now I could understand during the day, or even if you have huge amounts of women and Children, but when there are say 3 women or so and no children, would it really be a huge deal if they camped their at night when none of the spectators are around.
I know I know, its just not period correct, but as a new reenactor who essentially is single (at the events) I'm not sure that makes the other single women, or even wives feel very good.
Yay for politics. I guess I'm just used to medieval reenactment, they were a bit more loose on the women issues.
ah well, unless your a camp follower I guess your out of luck.hmm?

[johan_steele]

It stems from the idea that women don't belong in uniform, secondly the belief is that it is unauthentic. Though there were certainly laundresses a plenty. As the C/P/H crowd has gained more stature their view has become prevelant.

My own view at a National show, which is all the national re-enactments are, is that women re-enactors have their place and if a unit allows them they should not be turned away. For the Authentic events, there is no place for women in uniform; the exception being the woman who is there w/out their knowledge. Sleeping on the hard ground, using the sinks and sleeping next to the men. If a woman can pull that off (I know two now that have)... she has my vote as welcome anywhere, rules be ****ed.

Part of the problem has always been the women who giggle and refuse to hide their femininity as those who hid in the ranks did; they don't take it seriously. That is viewed as an affront by some.

There are a couple of groups of women who do an increadible job masquerading as men. At an event I met one of these ladies and didn't know I was dealing w/ a woman and did not until I received a very gracious thank you and a compliment for my assistance w/ teaching a (what I thought was a young man) 30 odd year old woman an easier way to handle a rifle. To say I was flabergasted would be an understatement of biblical proportions. That single incident changed my mind forever.

Good Luck, if you wish some more info on such drop me a PM & I'll pass you a couple links.

[scone]

Shane,
I Couldn't have said it better myself.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Resse at the Riggens Hill Event near Clarksville a few weeks ago. It was the usual meet and greet at the registration booth. but a few days afterwords you asked to join my yahoo group i have and told me Who she was and that she had just particpated in her first event.. I ewas like heu i was there to and after several min. of chatting I realized we meet a few days earlier at the event.. And I introduced her to the board here.

Steven

[jenna]

The "good ol' boys", as a very good friend calles them, play by their rules. They want the millitary camps to be as authentic as possible, aka: hard core. And like Shane said, they only want people in camp that are considered "hard core". They eat, sleep, and breath the CW millitary role and that is how they want camp run. Now, at non-national events they are typically not run that same way. During the day, yes, most of them do not want the ladies in camp without escort, since it would have been considered scandelous in that time for a woman to walk thru camp without a chaperone. It was just the ediquette of the time.

Now, civilian camps run much differently. We are mostly made up of women and of men who are sick of crawling around in the dirt in wool uniforms and form fitting kepis, so the rules aren't as strick there. But, the authenticity is just as high, even though there are allot of re-enactors who can't even pull off the basics, and believe me, I've seen them.

Unfortunately, you've entered a hobby that has been run by the "good ol' boys" for a long time, and they don't break rank very easily.

You could always check into the vevandier aspect of women in the war, but you'd have to find someone who would pose as your "hubby" for the weekend. Otherwise she would have been sent home as well.

Jenna

[scone]

My unit camps with the Military/ Civilian camp. And I think the 50th 50th Tennessee is basicly the same way Ms Reese.

The people putting onn the show on at corinth are just try to raise the bar up a little for this even.

steven

[MsReese]

LOL, thanks for all your input everyone, I definetly am not wanting to pose as a soldier, way too girly for that, I like my dresses (ok sometimes I would really luv a pair of jeans) but I have no desire to be a man in any sense, I would however love to learn how to shoot... (been a goal of mine for awhile, now if I can only find someone to trust me...haha)
I'm not sure what the 50th is doing this time, the Capt. seems very up in the air about it at the moment, I'm figuring we'll discuss at the meeting on thursday.
I do hope Corinth gets my reg. on time tho.

anyhoo.......thanks I appreciate everyone's input, this board has been very helpful in general.

[jenna]

Glad you do find everything helpful.

One thing to look at with the group that you have joined is if they have a civilian group attached to it. THey often set up in a different location then the others. And sometimes, military groups that have civilian groups attached to them will camp together and in other areas then the millitary camps.

Jenna