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Post by jdbrooks1987 on Feb 7, 2016 18:09:56 GMT -5
Greetings, I'm in the very early process of setting up a world war II German Army unit. And I need recruits! Among some of the few interested is a woman who wishes to play of male soldier. How does the reenacting community view female individuals acting as male troops?
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Mayo
1st Lieutenant 
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Mayo on Feb 8, 2016 23:18:27 GMT -5
Inaccurate
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Post by colonelbulldog on Feb 9, 2016 9:05:10 GMT -5
This is just my opinion, obviously. But, with as much farbiness we have in our hobby, I dont see a female portraying a male that terrible. With one difference. If it is a private tactical no worries, yes some dudes will complain but they probably need to check their impression first. But a public battle or camp, no, this portrays the wrong impression to the public. But if she wants to portray a female staff person or medical which would be appropriate for females then yes.
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jenks
Private First Class 
Posts: 55
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Post by jenks on Feb 9, 2016 11:54:55 GMT -5
I've seen women pull off a combat impression as a man extremely well, and looking much better at it then many of their male counterparts. No issues with it as long as the outward appearance is as a male.
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jupp72
Private First Class
Posts: 35
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Post by jupp72 on Feb 9, 2016 12:56:13 GMT -5
What's next? German reenactors who don't speak German?
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Post by shrikea8 on Feb 9, 2016 19:38:52 GMT -5
Loaded topic.
I think the biggest question is "Can she pull it off?"
PC-hat off, but will she look like an anime character or extra from Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS? Then, even with the best of intentions, probably not.
Is she willing to put forth the expense and care required to portray the impression as accurately(23rd chromosome notwithstanding)as possible or necessary? OK, that's a question to ask all participants, so forget the gender thing - just ask everybody.
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Post by jdbrooks1987 on Feb 9, 2016 22:05:53 GMT -5
Ok thanks
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Post by cptsmith on Feb 10, 2016 18:57:11 GMT -5
If she can pull off the Ilsa She-Wolf of the SS look, then definately bring her! But if she looks like an over weight middle aged man she will blend right in.
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Post by doc101 on Feb 10, 2016 19:01:41 GMT -5
Just more sliding off the accuracy scale...
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jupp72
Private First Class
Posts: 35
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Post by jupp72 on Feb 10, 2016 20:27:13 GMT -5
Seriously- we had a female come out with us a few years ago at FIG... She put on a toque, a Stalhelm, and a winter parka- you couldn't have told she was a girl unless you were a foot away from her. Gave her an MP-40, and she rocked - kept up with us just fine. Not a big problem.
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Post by colonelbulldog on Feb 12, 2016 8:40:51 GMT -5
Just more sliding off the accuracy scale... We did that a loooong time ago. |
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Post by doc101 on Feb 12, 2016 15:21:42 GMT -5
Yep. Why claim to reenact then? It's just CosPlay now.
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dbloge
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 1,130
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Post by dbloge on Feb 13, 2016 2:44:46 GMT -5
I think its kind of a sign of desperation, either to pacify a unit boyfriend/husband, or to try and add numbers to a small unit. But maybe thats just me. I do know of a few dudes that portray women in reenacting, but they portray women in real life as well.
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Mayo
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Mayo on Feb 14, 2016 12:03:19 GMT -5
I agree ^^^. LOL, "I do know of a few dudes that portray women in reenacting, but they portray women in real life as well."
Now I want to poke out my mind's eye.
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Post by hawke on Feb 15, 2016 13:51:59 GMT -5
In my opinion, if they either dress correctly, portray a male, or do a female impression, it's okay. We're all here to have fun and educate the public. Why not let the women do the same?
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Mayo
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Mayo on Feb 15, 2016 14:26:00 GMT -5
Spoken like a guy who's wife or girlfriend won't let him reenact unless she goes too.
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TarawaJon
2nd Lieutenant 
Issue in doubt!
Posts: 990
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Post by TarawaJon on Feb 19, 2016 13:33:44 GMT -5
No, a women should tell the women's story of WWII. Just the way it is.
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Post by americansoldier84 on Mar 24, 2016 12:44:14 GMT -5
No. Not to sound cold, but when you allow one false impression, you might as well allow them all. There has to be a standard, and a standard that is enforced. If we pick and choose what standards to enforce, we shouldn't have standards at all. Is not the purpose of reenacting to portray the time period, the people, the war as accurately as possible? I know at least when I reenact I make it my goal to look the part showing no difference between myself and the soldier of that time. If you reenact anything, that should be your goal as well. The fact is, it doesn't matter if "she can hoof it just like the guys," or "she has a better impression than some guys." There were no women in the infantry or combat arms at the time, so why would we do impressions showing otherwise knowing they are incorrect? If we are going to reenact World War II, we need to reenact it as it was; not as we feel it should have been or cut corners because its convenient. Part of the reenacting experience is to try to immerse yourself in the time period and if something is obviously not correct, it ruins the experience. There are plenty of impressions for women to do, WAC, Medical, etc... but portraying guys is incorrect.
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FJR1
Corporal 
Fallschirmj?ger Vor!
Posts: 149
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Post by FJR1 on Mar 27, 2016 4:27:12 GMT -5
No. Not to sound cold, but when you allow one false impression, you might as well allow them all. There has to be a standard, and a standard that is enforced. If we pick and choose what standards to enforce, we shouldn't have standards at all. Is not the purpose of reenacting to portray the time period, the people, the war as accurately as possible? I know at least when I reenact I make it my goal to look the part showing no difference between myself and the soldier of that time. If you reenact anything, that should be your goal as well. The fact is, it doesn't matter if "she can hoof it just like the guys," or "she has a better impression than some guys." There were no women in the infantry or combat arms at the time, so why would we do impressions showing otherwise knowing they are incorrect? If we are going to reenact World War II, we need to reenact it as it was; not as we feel it should have been or cut corners because its convenient. Part of the reenacting experience is to try to immerse yourself in the time period and if something is obviously not correct, it ruins the experience. There are plenty of impressions for women to do, WAC, Medical, etc... but portraying guys is incorrect. Well I guess I'll jump in here in response to the 2 items I've high lited on your comments: 1. If I read this correktly then you are saying that there should be NO one in the hobby doing enlisted line infantry who is over 25 yrs old and perhaps 25+ lbs over weight - Right? After all we MUST be historically accurate! I would wonder if you can meet those restrictions? 2. I would guess that you have not studied a lot of WW 2 history in Europe or do you just disregard the female ruskies who did front line infantry service. They had whole battalions of them, many carrying PPsH SMGs, as well as a lot of fighter pilots. Dean |
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dbloge
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 1,130
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Post by dbloge on Mar 27, 2016 12:55:34 GMT -5
Is not the purpose of reenacting to portray the time period, the people, the war as accurately as possible?
Accurate is a pretty subjective term in reenacting. Being conservative and taking out the 40+ year olds in reenacting, and then using the modern military military weight standards, which would be pretty generous in additional allowable weight as compared to WWII, 3/4 of todays reenactors wouldnt be historically accurate. We play with what we have, or at least are willing to accept I guess. WWII is a tiny hobby, it really is.
There were no women in the infantry or combat arms at the time.
Its true that there were women in combat arms in the Soviet army, but the play a minuscule part in WWII reenacting overall today. There are no battalions of female soviets in reenacting, and are over represented in the units they are in now.
DL
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