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University of Iowa Iowa Research Online Theses and Dissertations Spring 2013 "Minimum essential adjustments": gender, physicality, and equality at the United States Military Academy, 1976-1980 Amanda Kay Curtis University of Iowa Copyright 2013 Amanda Curtis This dissertation is available at Iowa Research Online: https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/2468 Recommended Citation Curtis, Amanda Kay. ""Minimum essential adjustments": gender, physicality, and equality at the United States Military Academy, 1976-1980." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2013. https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.1rcucds3. Follow this and additional works at:https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd Part of theExercise Physiology Commons “MINIMUM ESSENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS”: GENDER, PHYSICALITY, AND EQUALITY AT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, 1976-1980 by Amanda Kay Curtis An Abstract Of a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health and Sport Studies in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa May 2013 Thesis Supervisor: Associate Professor Catriona Parratt 1 ABSTRACT This study investigates the ways in which understandings of gender, physicality and equality influenced policy and thus constructed the identities and experiences of female cadets during the 1976 integration of women into the United States Military Academy at West Point. Policy decisions and the way in which they were put into practice set the precedent for all subsequent female cadets and so it is important to explore their origins and early impact. West Point is an ideal setting in which to explore two historically masculinist institutions, sport and the military, during a time when the women’s movement was cresting and the military was redefining itself in a new post- Vietnam voluntary military. An exploration of the changing gender dynamics as this elite male military institution became co-ed at a particular historical moment shows that physicality was more integral to the process of integrating women than actual military training was. This study is based on archival research conducted at the Special Collections and Archives of USMA and the personal accounts of female cadets who attended West Point from 1976-1980 to produce a qualitative picture of the integration of women into West Point. Focusing on military training, physical education, athletics, and covert training I found that women generally performed equally to men in military training yet struggled in certain aspects of physical training which seemed to validate those who doubted women’s ability to be successful cadets. Women were also excluded from important physical activities because of “physiological differences,” something that further served to separate them and construct them as “different” and “lesser.” Based on the Academy’s policy and practice with regard to physical training, along with a number of related matters, I conclude that while women were given equality in most respects, those in which they were not served to make them a second-class tier of cadet and soldier, judged not on combat and military skill and potential but rather on physical capabilities and 2 attributes. As a consequence, even though West Point integrated women it did so in a way that served to protect the symbolic role of combat associated with masculinity. Abstract Approved: ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________ Title and Department ____________________________________ Date “MINIMUM ESSENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS”: GENDER, PHYSICALITY, AND EQUALITY AT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY, 1976-1980 by Amanda Kay Curtis A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health and Sport Studies in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa May 2013 Thesis Supervisor: Associate Professor Catriona Parratt Copyright by AMANDA KAY CURTIS 2013 All Rights Reserved Graduate College The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL _______________________ PH.D. THESIS _______________ This is to certify that the Ph.D. thesis of Amanda Kay Curtis has been approved by the Examining Committee for the thesis requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health and Sport Studies at the May 2013 graduation. Thesis Committee: ___________________________________ Catriona Parratt, Thesis Supervisor ___________________________________ Susan Birrell ___________________________________ Katrina Sanders ___________________________________ Travis Vogan ___________________________________ Thomas Oates To Mom ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are several people that I need to thank that helped make this project possible. I would like to thank the members of my committee: Catriona Parratt, Susan Birrell, Katrina Sanders, Travis Vogan, and Tom Oates for their work and their help throughout this process. I would also like to thank former committee members Linda Kerber and Jennifer Metz for their help with my comprehensive exams and proposal committees. I specifically want to thank Susan and Tina who have been mainstays throughout my time at Iowa and with whom I have really enjoyed working with and getting to know. I especially want to thank Tina for the relationship we have developed during my time at Iowa and while I have appreciated and enjoyed working with Tina it is the personal time I have spent with her and the unending and sincere support she has given me that I am most thankful for. I am also thankful to all of my fellow graduate students for the camaraderie we all share. Specifically I would like to thank my dissertation buddy Sarah for her help as we went through this process together. I would also like to thank Lis who has helped me survive both academically and personally and is always someone I can talk to and I thank her truly for her friendship. In addition to my time with Sport Studies I have also enjoyed working in the Health and Physical Activity Skills department with Amy Fletcher and Jerri Wolfe and I very much appreciate their help and support over the years. I would be remiss if I did not thank Beth Pelton for her work on the behalf of our original department and for the generosity and kindness she showed me personally. I will forever be grateful to her and to all of the members of our department who were so supportive and understanding during the most difficult time of my life. iii I would like to thank all those in the Special Collections and Archives department of the United States Military Academy Library who helped me during my two week research visit. I would especially like to thank Associate Director for Special Collections and Archives Suzanne Christoff who facilitated my trip and to Archives Curator Alicia Mauldin-Ware who spent a significant amount of time finding and retrieving materials for me. To all of my friends and family back home thank you for your thoughts and prayers. An especially big thank you to my best friends Valerie Wise and Stephanie Renner who are both ridiculously supportive of me and always give me encouragement. To my parents, Paul and Emily Curtis, thank you for all of the unconditional love and support you have given me throughout the years. If it was not for my parents and grandparents I would not be where I am today. I want to thank my brother Jonathan and sister-in-law Shelli for always being there for me and for supporting me in whatever I do. I am lucky to have such a close relationship with them and always look forward to and enjoy the time we get to spend together. My nephew Carson and niece Penelope have been the brightest lights in my life these past few years and I want to thank them for that. Carson and Penny always make me happy, remind me how to have fun and always make me feel loved and for that I am deeply grateful. And finally I wish to thank Mom for everything. Nothing I have done would have been possible if it were not for her. She was always my biggest fan and supporter as well as my biggest defender. She always had so much more confidence in me than I ever had in myself. She embodied strength, determination and faith and has always been my role model. I love you and miss you every day and I hope I’ve made you proud. iv

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female cadets during the 1976 integration of women into the United States Military . there for me and for supporting me in whatever I do. APPENDIX A. TERMINOLOGY AND ORGANIZATIONAL GUIDE ..246 .. Maringer also uses sport to dispute the idea of creating different standards for.
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