In the midst of the Vietnam War, female inclusion contributed to the ignition of revolutionary social change. Female service personnel and their experiences became symbolic of opportunity and their struggles as advocates for change. Much like the Berlin Wall which came down in November 1991, gender barriers were shown to be surmountable as a result of disruption during the Vietnam War.
The sacrifices and struggles were individually and collectively faced due to gender barriers and traditional beliefs about female roles and responsibilities during and post-Vietnam War; what this signified became a turning point in the long road to political, social and personal liberation for women in society.
The late 1960s in Australia were characterised by rejection of mainstream gender expectations and standards of employment, appearance and lifestyle. Women were slowly claiming liberation due to political and social movement throughout the country. The introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1961 sparked momentous change and a “sexual revolution” that allowed women to be in control of their reproductive decisions. This meant they were free to pursue careers and broaden their options instead of having to comply to the domesticated expectations held by Australian society. These standards portrayed women as home-bodies whose primary role in a stereotypical household was the raising of children. In 1962, the “Mini Skirt” generated a carefree fashion sense and self-expression among women – arguably the first time it was acknowledged in Australian society. Women were legally allowed in pubs in 1963 and received equal pay in 1969. Throughout the 60s, women were entering the workforce, joining trade unions and becoming involved in political parties. Women began to triumph due to the gradually changing Australian societal norms, and this newly acquired empowerment is what inspired women to seek the adventure, appreciation, freedom, independence and a sense of purpose seemingly promised in Vietnam.
The realism of war became very apparent very quickly for the women who went to Vietnam; yet in the face of adversity, they rose above and moved beyond the gender barriers they were constrained by in Australia. In Vietnam, their contributions mattered. The war awakened empowerment and allowed these women to display qualities held as traditionally or conventionally male; evident through the experiences of nurses such as RAANC sister Lieutenant Margaret Ahern, Red Cross Field Force officer, Lieutenant Jan McCarthy and many more. Yet, on return to Australia, the stories of female struggles and sacrifices went inadequately recognised and many servicewomen, much like the servicemen, suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder but were left undiagnosed and isolated. This generated frustration among the women which was then directed into campaigning for equal civil rights, as well as women’s liberation through consciousness raising, and greater recognition.
Forty-three RAANC nurses served as part of Australia’s army involvement in Vietnam and about 210 women were involved in medical teams as Australian civilian nurses. Over 1,000 Australian women were involved in the Vietnam War, and served in a range of vital roles including nurses, entertainers, humanitarian workers, journalists, secretaries, entrepreneurs, civilian medical staff, and counsellors. When reflecting on the time they spent serving Australia, those women frequently express that Vietnam was ‘one of the highlights’ of their lives. Their seemingly cynical motives for going to Vietnam were fuelled by a lust to feel appreciated, to be driven by a sense of purpose, freedom and belonging. When presented with the opportunity to fulfil these aspirations, most women didn’t give it much thought as, in their eyes, Vietnam was a land of opportunity, independence and extraordinary freedom.
The Vietnam War was the longest operational commitment of Australian forces, and arguably the most discordant and divisive conflict in Australia’s history. Throughout the duration of the war (from 1962 until 1975), approximately 60,000 Australians served in defence of South Vietnam, of whom 520 died and almost 3,000 were evacuated due to wounds, severe injuries or life-threatening illnesses. Initially, government policy did not allow for servicewomen in Vietnam. Yet, as the war escalated, the policy was amended and in May, 1967, the first Royal Australian Army Nurses Corps nurses arrived at the 8th Field Hospital. The hospital was located in the sandhills of the Vung Tau peninsula, situated at the centre of the 1st Australian Logistics Support Group.
On arrival in Vietnam, the nurses and civilian aid workers were confronted with the harsh reality of war. Being underprepared for the experience through lack of specialist training, they first arrived to very poor, primitive living and working conditions. The Vietnam War was a situation they had never been in, and one they would never be in again; it required skills, mateship, determination and bravery that had not previously been expected of these nurses and workers in Australia. A majority of the hospitals had little water, seldom had electricity or a sufficient amount of medication, equipment, dressings, and mattresses.
The first RAANCs to arrive in South Vietnam were faced with the difficult and sometimes frightening task of establishing themselves within the largely male-dominated hospital and living environment. The nurses had to quickly adapt and were faced with patients’ injuries caused by explosions, gunfire, mines, shellfire, malaria and fever. Therefore they adopted the somewhat effective process of Triage – quickly sorting the new patients and distinguishing between high priority and those with less urgent needs. Their work was stressful and fatiguing, the decisions the nurses made could drastically affect the lives of the soldiers in their care and in some cases, it was the difference between life and death. The nurses not only cared for Allied soldiers, but additionally treated Vietnamese and Australian civilians, and enemy soldiers, providing medication as well as vital emotional support that arguably saved just as many lives. Aid workers such as those who worked with Red Cross, and the nurses, accompanied many wounded soldiers home, re-establishing their self-esteem and supplying practical comfort and sympathy.
Vietnam was not only appealing for those who served as nurses. Women who were performers and journalists also travelled to Vietnam and gained independence and a sense of purpose. Whilst the roles of both groups of women differed greatly, to some extent, both sacrificed their individual well-being to help others, and both had drastically underestimated every aspect of war. War surrounded everybody and everything, in a very dangerous way, evident through the experiences of key female figures who wrote, photographed, assisted, and undertook work on the ground during the Vietnam War.
Not until their arrival in Vietnam did the serious and catastrophically tragic nature of war reveal itself. The naivete of these adventurers clouded the fact that the inhumane nature of war dramatically changed people’s outlook on life. Entertainers did not have the protection of a uniform and ranking; also, the nature of their work made them the centre of male attention, which was not always desirable. Yes, they were being paid to do what they loved in a foreign country and were rewarded with the opportunity to provide emotional support and sympathy, but the female entertainers were exposed to inadvertent terrors of war, including sexual harassment. The predominantly male-run media successfully shielded Australia from the racism and sexual abuse exhibited during the war, focusing more on the combat and capturing the accomplishments of Australians. Incidents of sexual abuse, which came to light were publicly criticised: Some believed that the victims worked as prostitutes; others commented that the situation was their own fault due to dressing 'too seductively'. Overall, many of these experiences affected the way in which women perceived gender roles, causing many to question their status in society.
During the war, objectification of women was not uncommon. More often than not, the naivety of some of the women was taken advantage of and women were heavily patronised, while the asexual, respectful attitudes towards the female nurses and journalists were more common. What becomes clear is that each individual’s perspective of the Vietnam War is different: some breezed through bombardments, immune to fear due to the naivety of their youth; some observed from a distance; many just saw the aftermath; and some were caught in the action. Many women attempted to maintain a professional outlook on the war yet it quickly became personal, they’d become embroiled in the tragedy.
“Eighteen, nineteen, twenty-year-olds become killers and it’s a game of survival. War becomes exile and you accept what you see and what you do.”
“They’re in someone else’s country, with a whole lot of weapons, just to kill them. That’s what they’re trained for. You had to remember that.”
– Helen Keys, from the radio documentary ‘Minefields and Miniskirts: Australian Women in the Vietnam War
‘Welcome home to our boys’
‘Well done boys’
‘There weren’t women in Vietnam, Vietnam is no place for a woman.’
‘What were they doing there?’
- The generalised welcome home received by Australian servicewomen
In 1975, Australian society was sexist. It was commonly assumed that women didn’t have an opinion, and they didn’t make any valuable contributions throughout the duration of the Vietnam War. The Australian music industry at the time produced truly amazing and emotional songs such as ‘I Was Only 19’ by Redgum and ‘Khe Sahn’ by Cold Chisel that powerfully portrayed experiences and the effects the Vietnam War had on the men who served yet, in doing so, these culturally iconic texts silenced and marginalised women.
Female inclusion in the Vietnam War was vital yet on return to Australia, women were denied proper recognition for the sacrifices and struggles they had endured. Few people knew, or cared, about the well-being of the women who served in Vietnam. The women were vulnerable to becoming isolated from society, and their families and friends, as they failed to grasp experiences during the war. Much like the male veterans, the female veterans were utterly and completely changed by the Vietnam Campaign. Some women began to question previous decisions made by parliament in regards to the war as they had been witnesses to the devastation; the young men had been manipulated, and the war had cost them their lives. Over half of the women who returned home from the war were disturbed and emotionally drained, tormented by the constant reliving of the horrors they witnessed. The symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder were less visible in female veterans; social conditioning led women to internalise their anxiety rather than give vent to outbursts of rage or heavy drinking. The first servicewoman to be diagnosed with PTSD was Trish Ferguson in 1992, almost twenty years after the conclusion of the war.
“It made me understand that I must primarily rely on myself and it has shown me how to know what true friends are. It made me understand also that I need not conform to anybody else’s idea of what I should be. Vietnam made me a rebel.”
– Patricia Ferguson, on the radio documentary ‘Minefields and Miniskirts; Australian Women in the Vietnam War’
Despite emotional turmoil and physical consequences caused by the Vietnam War, the women returned home more independent, assertive and empowered. Experience of conflict had provided them with perspective and self-worth. Vietnam forged survivors, and any lack of recognition or acknowledgment only further enhanced the impetus for change. Women were becoming a prominent force in Australian society and while their changing status was not solely due to the Vietnam War, the war had in fact had a profound impact on the dismantling of gender barriers in Australia.
Lieutenant Barbara Frances Black is one of many servicewomen who fought for change. On return home from serving at the 1st Australian Field Hospital in Vung Tau, Black fell pregnant and was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Up until her death on the 3 November 1971, Black fought to amend the Veterans’ Entitlement Act; a law that would help her child and the other dependants of servicewomen. The Act was amended shortly after her death. Black’s fight for equality allowed many female veterans to gain equal recognition and rights.
Today, the influences of the women who served in the Vietnam War and those who fought for equality pre and post war are evident in society and their struggles became catalysts for change. With a new-found refusal to conform to societal expectations, women are able to defy gender barriers and redefine roles.
The investigation I undertook in regards to the revolutionary social change of Australian society during the 1960s – 70s, provides insight into the more uncommon experiences of Australian Women in the Vietnam War. After conducting research, I am able to conclude that the Vietnam War fuelled empowerment in Australian women, yet I can’t help but feel sympathetic that an immense, tragic adversity had to occur to spark public action and a more drastic longing for change in society.
Sources
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