Editor,

“This is an opportunity to update the position titles and descriptions themselves to demonstrate through this language that women are included in these positions.” — Navy Secretary Ray Mabus

I find the objections to this to be amusing and frustrating on so many levels. As a woman of the 1970s, not a “bra burner” but a worker in the struggle, I am so happy that so many find this to be unnecessary.

I believe that so many people find it unnecessary because they take it for granted that women are already there.

Why are they already there? They are there because women like me had enough self esteem to put our feet in the door to keep it open for the younger women to get in.

We went through the struggle to deal with the ridicule still evidenced by the expression “bra burning 1970s.”

The struggle is ongoing even though it is the 21st Century. Will the Navy survive changing the names of the titles?

Yes.

Will young women be more likely to choose a Navy career because of the change? No one can say.

Our society survived the changes from policeman, fireman, mailman to police officer, firefighter, mail carrier. I believe we are more accepting of women in these roles because of the change.

And though I feel that it won’t necessarily make a difference in the Navy at this late date, the very fact that we see it as unnecessary may be because of those changes in our language.

Not to mention a huge debt to the bra burning 1970s.

Rita Cline

Oak Harbor