1. Living a life of sex and danger: women, warfare, and sex in military folk rhymes
- Author
-
Trnka, Susanna
- Subjects
Folklore -- Military aspects ,Signs and symbols -- Military aspects ,Women -- Portrayals ,Weapons -- Portrayals ,Anthropology/archeology/folklore ,Regional focus/area studies - Abstract
Images of women and of sex occur with great frequency in military folk rhymes. Women and weapons often symbolize the other and success in battle is often expressed in the same words as success with women. Using this symbolic equation between male sexuality and battle allows the military to turn a man's self-image into that of a soldier and also gives the recruit reasons to do battle. Putting battle into folkloric rhymes makes war less horrible. Sex is necessary for procreation and if sex symbolizes war, war must be necessary as well. The main function of sexual symbols in the military is thus to bolster the idea of the military as powerful.
- Published
- 1995