Women's Role in the Military in the 1960's

In the army, WACs did not have to go under bivouac training or any weapons familiarization. WAF recruits were told how they were to do things, like dress: they where told that their lipstick had to be a certain color and how to apply it lipstick. Their nails had to be the same color as their lipstick, which had to be the same color as the scarlet braid on their uniform hats. Even in Vietnam under combat conditions they had to dress in skirts and pumps, rather than the custom boots and field clothing in order to project that neat and feminine image. Their careers were even further limited and they were allowed few promotion opportunities and none could ever serve as admirals or generals.

The directors for women within the services generally supported very narrow roles for servicewomen. They simply did not want to generate controversy that would ever so jeopardize women's already marginal position in the armed forces. The directors sought acceptance for women in the military, never for equality.