"Minimum essential adjustments": gender, physicality, and equality at the United States Military ...

272 Pages·2016·0.71 MB·English

by  Amanda Kay Curtis

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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.

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