Uncle Sams Brides The World of Military Wives
Stone and Alt, themselves wives of military men, here chronicle with sympathy the nomadic, often frustrating lives of women married to American enlistees and officers. The picture they paint is grim: within the self-contained, socially stratified, conformist communities stationed at bases in the U.S. and abroad, standards of living may seem luxurious compared with those of earlier times, but families of lower-ranking personnel must often subsist on meager allowances even when obliged to shop in expensive neighboring cities. Moreover, the authors claim, wife abuse and marital separations are no strangers to military unions, and AIDS–contracted by the men through exposure to prostitutes–is not uncommon. Stone and Alt contend that a wife’s ability to perform socially, as befits her husband’s rank, makes or breaks his career and her domestic bliss. However, they add, the traditional power of military wives’ clubs is declining as more women pursue their own careers.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Offensive and Out of Date
I agree that the first chapter is enough to make an enlisted wife cry or walk away from the book altogether. Most of what I read is now completely out of date and relating to a military that is very little like what we’ve experienced the last 10 years my husband has been in. I think the basic assumption that will make the enlisted wife feel offended is that all enlisted wives secretly wish they were officers wives. I see little reason to read this book now-days unless it is for posterity’s sake. There are better, newer books out there. Ones that more accurately paint the picture of the current military wife. Look for those and skip this one altogether!
1 Star Can I give a rating with negative stars?
I’ve seen the military from behind the mysterious gates for 20+ years.
Regrettably, this is a poorly conceived monogram, attempting to pass itself off as a well researched social study of the world of military wives. This is not scholarly effort, despite the attempt to use an occasional footnote to offset a mountain of conjecture and opinion. The use of a random anecdote does not prove a thesis, yet this seems to be the primary methodology used in this book. I recommend you do not buy or waste any time with this book. It is no wonder it is out of print. If you loved the National Enquirer or the Weekly World News you’ll love chapter 6. Otherwise save your time. Thank goodness these types of spouses imagined in this book are not a part of today’s military.
A much better expenditure would be towards supporting current military spouses via any Fisher House (Provides free or low cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers), in lieu of supporting these authors.
4 Stars hopefully, things have changed for the better
This book is a real eye-opener. The stats and studies cited by the authors are mainly from the 1970s-’80s, and I sincerely hope conditions for US military dependents have improved. (With the latest round of budgets cuts and BRAC, I shudder to think of how on-base facilities will be affected, including daycare and family medical services.) And I also hope that attitudes toward working spouses have changed — surely it’s in the military’s best interest to recognize that a dependent wife with a college degree and established profession may contribute substantially to her family’s budget, thereby lessening the need for extra support from the government (e.g., food stamps). Such a lady is more deserving of the title, “independent”!
In the first chapter, the authors give a brief overview of living conditions at frontier army posts during the 19th century. Interested readers can learn more from such books as, “Glittering Misery: Dependents of the Indian-Fighting Army” by Patricia Y. Stallard (Univ. of OK Press, 1991/2), and, “Vanished Arizona” by Martha Summerhayes, who braved the Arizona Territory with her soldier husband in the 1870s [Bison Books (reprint), 1979].
3 Stars You missed the point of the book.
I believe the others who wrote these reviews failed to notice a few points to this book. First, the book was written by officers wives, and though the military may not be the same today, it was as they said, 15 years ago. Don’t turn a blind eye to this sociologically sound item, it may just open your eyes to how life really was for military wives, particularly those of the soldiers drafted in the 60’s and 70’s. One more point, those of you judging the book by today’s military standards have missed the fact that this book speaks of a different military. Don’t judge the book by an all volunteer force, as it is today. The era between 1950 and 1990 was much different than it is today. Think while you read.
1 Star Very Sad
I only got through a few chapters of this silly book! It came highly recommend from a lady I respect………HOWEVER, it does not accuratly portray today’s miltary. Rather that of the 1800’s! Enlisted men, thier wives and families are often better educated then those who are in command and are not only intrested in making babies! Rank has no place between wives……..it’s not yours! Military life is about the whole family but unless you are dealing drugs you can’t make or break his career just cause you and the CO’s wife don’t see eye to eye!Rather we have the privilege of helping our husband’s keep our country free and make a stand for freedom all aroudn the world.
Thankfully after 15 years in the military I can say that while the life/attitudes portrayed in this book were commonplace more than 100 years ago it is not the way it is today! Except perhaps by women who have read this book or been schooled by someone who is clueless!
If you are new to the military/or looking for an accurate portrayal of military life today………save this for later! Heroes at Home by Ellie Kay or When Duty calls is a much better choice! If you want a portrayl of life as it was try Military/Army Wives on the Frontier!!
Skip this.
You must log in to post a comment.