Team Lioness

I went to a screening at the Oakland Art Museum last week and was very moved by the documentary being showed. The film followed a small group of women who were referred to as "Team Lioness." Team Lioness is a group of army women put together to aid the marines with special tasks like seeking out insurgents and searching the women. However, in doing so they were participating in direct combat, as many women are in the war in Iraq. Congress explicitly states that women are not to participate on the front lines or in combat, however, with our modern war it has become nearly impossible to define the scope of combat. Because of this women are directly participating in fighting in the war and have been proving themselves alongside their male counterparts, yet they are not receiving proper acknowledgement and even more importantly proper training. They are expected to do the same job as the male soldiers yet are not allowed to be trained in the areas that are necessary. For example women are not trained to operate the military's largest guns and weapons, and so if they find themselves trapped or without their fellow soldiers, they would not know how to operate the equipment that would best protect them. I found it increasingly sad as I was confronted with so many of the challenges women face in the army, especially the lack of respect from many of their fellow soldiers. One man who was interviewed said he didn't like working with women because he didn't want to be attached to the death of a female. I felt that the documentary was excellent and feel that everyone would benefit from viewing it.