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Should the Night's Watch accept women ?


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#1 Arkash

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:41 PM

I'm sorry if the thread already exist, but well, I want to see your thoughts about this.

Imo, yes, they should accept women... not (only) from a sexuality point of view, but beyond.

It will bring more diversity to the Wall, make it more living, more entertaining, and in a way, more joyful, I guess...

Then, one could use the cliché argument of "more organized women, being more rigorous and disciplined", but yeah, as I said, that may be a cliché (judging by most women around me).

It will help, in my opinion, a lot in improving the NW if they accept women...

What do you guys out there think ?

#2 StannisBamfatheon

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:44 PM

Selyse Florent is all the woman I need.

#3 Lady Arwen

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:45 PM

Do you mean that the NW could use women to take care of household things?

I don't think it would be helpful to accept women into the NW. Women in Westeros seem to be more of a commodity than anything else. It doesn't appear that Westerosi culture supports the idea of women being integral to any operation, least of all a prison industrial complex type of endeavour like the NW.

Also, the NW isn't supposed to be "joyful", since their mentality is that women are a distraction from the NW's duty.

#4 Stormcloak

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:47 PM

Well, it'd make the chastity vow a lot more difficult.

Edited by richardpale, 24 June 2012 - 04:48 PM.


#5 Karelian

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:47 PM

They would need to organize some kindergartens there too. :)

Are women used as soldiers in Westeros at all? If not I don't think that the NW would accept female members either. I guess sending thousands of women to death would harm the demographic situation especially during long winters.

#6 Buckwheat

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:47 PM

Westeros is not really a society that would even think of having a contigent of women in an army, I am afraid. The nightswatchers were not that happy about the spearwives in of the castles either.

It might be a good idea, though. But I would not want any of them to share Brave Danny Flint's story.

#7 nQthing

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:50 PM

Im surprised their isn't any woman in the NW, who does all the cooking

#8 Caz

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:50 PM

In theory, yes.  It would be great for the morale of the men.  However, one would have to think about the implications of the children that will inevitably come along..a major health and safety issue, methinks!

#9 Arkash

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:52 PM

Quote

In theory, yes.  It would be great for the morale of the men.  However, one would have to think about the implications of the children that will inevitably come along..a major health and safety issue, methinks!


Give'm to the WW.... *kidding*. :D



#10 Sevumar

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:52 PM

I don't think this is something we're likely to see in the scope of the story. Military cultures tend to be very insular and conservative. Our own military still struggles with the issue of integrating women and protecting them from abuse by their peers. Rape and sexual assault are serious, widespread issues facing our armed services, so it's an uphill struggle even in our society.

Do I think it's the right thing to do? Yes, but I think it requires changes in Westerosi cultural attitudes that we're not likely to see in the series.

View PostBuckwheat, on 24 June 2012 - 04:47 PM, said:

It might be a good idea, though. But I would not want any of them to share Brave Danny Flint's story.

That shouldn't be an argument against women joining, but an argument against the inability of the leaders to maintain discipline and protect NW members from predation by their "brothers."

#11 PrinceHenryris

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:52 PM

Long Barrow is already garrisoned by  Wildling Spearwives.

#12 Winter's Knight

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:52 PM

There are already bastions of Wildling women in the watch-they could just maintain those with more women as needed?

#13 Jon's Queen Consort

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:53 PM

Let me see a dozen of those spring boys – before they take the black against a dozen of women warriors like Brienne or Dacey. Hm…
In that case I see Jon Snow do the dishes and Alliser Thorne ironing.

#14 Buckwheat

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:54 PM

View PostnQthing, on 24 June 2012 - 04:50 PM, said:

Im surprised their isn't any woman in the NW, who does all the cooking
Three-finger Hobb. Who would apparently do better as a commander. :lol:

#15 Lord Paramount of Essos

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:56 PM

Its a millitary organization in medieval time. Also they must make no family and it is kinda like a prison for criminals to serve for life, many of them rapers
Women? nope:)

#16 Lady Sansa Stark

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 04:59 PM

Neh, that won't work out. It would be very hard to keep those vows they've taken, won't it?

#17 Pellaeon

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 05:02 PM

I don't believe the westerosi society will change at the end, so no chance for women and the NW

#18 sumpthy

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 05:02 PM

They'd really have to garrison the women in a different castle (like Jon Snow already did), or at least keep them away from the rapists.

#19 Jamie Lannister

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 05:03 PM

View PostLady Sansa Stark, on 24 June 2012 - 04:59 PM, said:

Neh, that won't work out. It would be very hard to keep those vows they've taken, won't it?

Particularly since the modern Night's Watch seems to be a gaggle of rapists, murderers and general criminals...

#20 bloodymime

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Posted 24 June 2012 - 05:03 PM

View PostSevumar, on 24 June 2012 - 04:52 PM, said:

I don't think this is something we're likely to see in the scope of the story. Military cultures tend to be very insular and conservative. Our own military still struggles with the issue of integrating women and protecting them from abuse by their peers. Rape and sexual assault are serious, widespread issues facing our armed services, so it's an uphill struggle even in our society.

Do I think it's the right thing to do? Yes, but I think it requires changes in Westerosi cultural attitudes that we're not likely to see in the series.



That shouldn't be an argument against women joining, but an argument against the inability of the leaders to maintain discipline and protect NW members from predation by their "brothers."

The Night's Watch has become less of miltary culture and more of a prison. The Wall is where everybody is sending their rapists to be punished.

Looks like a lot of people have the same idea. Sending women to the Wall wouldn't be too far off from sending women to Pelican Bay.

Edited by bloodymime, 24 June 2012 - 05:08 PM.