Military statue too manly

[Rose Siding]

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (AP) -- A design for a statue honoring the state's female veterans was scrapped amid concerns that the figure of a muscular woman in military fatigues and T-shirt was not feminine enough.
State Division of Veteran Affairs Director Larry Linch said Tuesday a review committee polled female veterans and found they opposed the design created by Charleston artist Joe Mullins.
"The statue that Mr. Mullins created is dead," Mr. Linch said.
...
The sculptor said the design was approved by the agency in 1999 and he has already been paid $50,000 for the work. He said the culture and history division required him to provide a sculpture of a woman in military fatigues.
...
The final design may not be a statue at all, said Mrs. Utt, who also is a state assistant attorney general.
"Perhaps a living memorial. A garden," she said. "I think there are a lot of ideas roaming around."

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050302-110251-9299r.htm

[soup]

1. I'm thinking it can be salvaged.

just needs a little reworking. trade the pants for a skirt, add some lipstick, an apron, maybe a hotpad holding an apple pie. High heels would definitely help. Change the hat, add a veil. hmmm. almost there.

Seriously, what's with the hand-on-hip pose?

[Rose Siding]

2. She should be barefoot and in the 5th month

duh!

[soup]

3. knew I forgot something.

sorry that my posts are so angry today - must be something in the water (or the White House).

[Tesha]

5. You could just throw a burqaa over her. (NT)

[HereSince1628]

8. Forget hand on hips...What's the deal with the lordosis arch to the back?

and the slanted pelvis?

That statue looks like a game show hostess modelling the prize car.

[cally]

13. I disagree

It looks like a strong woman, comfortable in her body. I see nothing sexual in her stance.

[Tyler Durden]

4. Looks like a strong, military type female to ME.

OOPS, my bad. Strong woman + Southern State = massive outcry.

Keep them li'l ol' gals nice and feeble, boys.

Sheesh.

[atommom]

16. That's it exactly.

:eyes:

[ryan_cats]

22. What is the problem?

Is showing a woman as strong a bad thing? What is is with these people, I think you're right. It won't fly down there.

Hell, I know some seriously bad ass women who would be pissed to see that this statue is possibly going to be replaced by a garden. Is that sexism or what?

[Massachusetts]

6. It isn't Rosie The Riveter thats for sure.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. The thing looks like an anime to me. What the hell is the government

doing paying some idiot $50,000 for a stupid statue?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. It's the closest thing to art that the government will sponsor

for at least 4 years. Don't knock it.

[TexasLawyer]

9. Is that a broom she's holding?

Jeeze, it looks like he/she's loitering on a street corner. Is that what women in the military do?

[beyurslf]

10. The T shirt is too manly? The fatigues?

Isn't this what they wear?

How about a mini skirt and a pamela anderson clone in a halter top?

[northzax]

11. for the military? naah,

maybe a jello-wrester in a bustier is more what they had in mind...

[regnaD kciN]

12. Quick! Re-do it to look like Lynndie England!

That's the image we want when people think of women in the armed forces!

:eyes:

[madison2000]

21. Pointing at a prisoners genitals and laughing

thats the image the rest of the world has of American military women

[ryan_cats]

23. Poiting with one hand

Pointing with one hand and a thumbs up with the other. I can still see it in my mind's eye.

[Nimrod]

14. Eeenteresting

I must admit, the statue bears a striking resemblance to the stereotypical butch-dyke. As a matter of fact, it looks a lot like one of my friends... Wonder if that's what the problem REALLY is.

[MARALE]

15. Dosn't look too manly to me

The hat looks terrible, but other than that, the females body looks normal. I hope the next one doesn't have bigger boobs. Maybe they want to show off that the Army gives free boob jobs. (boy I am cynical today, sorry)

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

17. looks nice to me

the woman could look a little higher than on the ground...like looking forward for example... but perhaps she is busy spotting IED's in the street...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. "a review committee polled female veterans and found they opposed

the design"

I hope they polled a lot of them. I think it should be up to the women in uniform to determine how they wish to be portrayed.

[Richard Steele]

20. I agree!

I was gonna post a sarcastic comment back when this thread was new,
but I re-read the OP and saw that it was _FEMALE VETERANS_ who didn't like the design.

Personally, I like it. But I'm not a female vet, so I will defer to them on this subject.

Has anyone determined WHY they objected to this design?

[jmowreader]

24. The whole thing is just...off

The hat is wrong--it's a hat from the green fatigues, which they got rid of in the 1980s--and the guidon has got to go. Not crazy about that thing wrapped around her neck either; a sweater? And the legs! Terrible position, and you'd only wear your boots like that if you were in the field. (Where you wouldn't take a guidon in the first place.)

Come to think of it, this kinda looks like Lynndie England except not nearly as ugly. No cigarette or evil grin, either.

There's a great statue of a female combat nurse in Washington, DC. She exhibits strength, femininity and power all in one image.