Historical evidence abounds on women's roles in warfare. Yet, women's military prowess is met with both awe and disdain. Their acceptance into militarized entities and state militaries is necessary and also problematic, in different ways. Generally, in state militaries, when women are serving the armed force's purpose in ways that do not upset cultural norms, their role is acceptable and honorable—but, it requires maintaining an appearance of femininity and distance from imminent harm. When their presence or activity challenges the cultural boundaries of what is acceptable for their gender, however, their role becomes contentious. As such, women's continued integration into military establishments offers a rich context for anthropological exploration into topics of gender and culture, sexuality, war and violence, femininity and masculinity, and organizational culture.
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