| Popis: |
This introductory chapter provides an overview of how sexual encounters shaped the Vietnam War by absorbing international attention and defining military and diplomatic relations. Indeed, both consensual and nonconsensual relations, on and behind the front lines, created considerable obstacles for military operations and political strategy. Ultimately, the impact of service member–civilian relationships can be seen by looking at three main areas: power relations between the United States and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), South Vietnamese society, and US military policies. The South Vietnamese bans on prostitution and resistance to interracial marriage created a new set of challenges for policy makers and their judgment in writing and enforcing social regulations. By ignoring or undermining RVN social policies, the United States contributed to the overall weakening of the relationship between the two nations and in many ways dictated the behind-the-lines conduct of service members abroad. The chapter then considers how Vietnamese women are represented and perceived in popular culture and memory. |
