[MR] Brotherhood, sort of...

[Sandra Rangel]

Sure I'll be the first "girl fighter" to speak.....

Brotherhood, fraternity, just a bunch of dudes hitting each other with
sticks, stick jocks..... the list can go on and on. Political
correctness can sometimes be a pain and it doesn't matter.....but what
it boils down to is not what it's called but how the person themself
feels they are in that "group".  I have gotten to the point that I
don't get offended if someone calls me a girl fighter even though I 'd
rather not be something different than simply a "fighter." It doesn't
matter to me either way in the end- I just wanna fight :)

I can say from experience for the little bit of time I've been
fighting that how I view myself in the world of rattan fighting. It
took me a while but I found if, as a fighter, I think of myself as a
girl fighter then I will treat myself differently and act accordingly.
And in my case it was holding me back mentally until it was brought to
my attention. I didn't "feel" like I *belonged* on the fighting field
so therefore I couldn't do what I wanted to do which was simply,
fight. I will admit moving here and having to start in a new Kingdom
was scary and not only that but Atlantia's fighting culture preceded
itself both good and bad. But after getting in touch with local
fighters in Augusta and Columbia I can tell I felt most welcome
armoring up. And I wasn't treated any different than any new fighter
for which I cannot be more grateful for. I am glad no one who is
teaching me to fight has decided to take it easier because I was
girl....

This isn't my first time trying to find my place in a male dominated
arena. I'm going on 8 years in the military- besides being restricted
from doing certain jobs- I have seen it all; from being treated
unfairly or given the advantage based on gender. I've also seen women
in the military use the "gender card". But I did what I knew to be
right and that was treat and think of myself as equal- a soldier.
Although I never thought of it that way I simply just did what needed
to be done. Some people notice that and others not. I was actually
thanked by some of the NCO's (non commissioned officers) in my unit.
They said they noticed I didn't try to be a female soldier but that I
was trying to be just a soldier- they respected me for that and it
kinda hit me as I hadn't really thought about it. Then taking what was
told to me about what I may be doing on the field (mentally) it seemed
everything with my mental block with fighting clicked.
I am welcome here, I do belong and if I am armored up I will treated
just the same as Joe Smoe standing next to me in practice. But I had
to convince *myself* of that- it wasn't someone being more PC or not.

~Rohesia @-,-'--





I never have felt discriminated against playing in heavy combat, not
in Trimaris or in Atlantia (the only two places I've fought).... I
have the early women fighters who trail blazed the way for that. They
showed everyone that girls can hit just as hard and have a place just
like the person who is in a wheelchair, is half blind, has one leg,
etc.