Spine Woman by Brittany Kieler
Veteran: “Nancy”, US Air Force
Artist Statement: I have learned that Nancy’s strength is quiet, but that is not to say that it has any less presence or effect. She is humble, but steadfast in her beliefs, and she is trusting of herself. She served as a dental technician, and during that time, men in her unit tried to force her to have sex with them. When she didn’t allow them to use her body, they held back her promotions so that the Commanding Officer would think her a less than marginal airman. They also threatened to have her daughter taken away. Nancy did not give in. She reported the men to higher authority, but when no action was taken against them, Nancy realized that she could rely on no one but herself. She came to work earlier and left later than was required of her. She made her uniform and her actions pristine so that no one could report her. When she speaks of this time, I imagine that Nancy must be made of something quite sturdy. Those years are marked by a struggle, she says, that felt like combating a pack of wolves. Her long braided hair is the composure that she kept, a sort of exoskeleton. Her ribs, her spine, her bones, which held her in the straightest posture, hold her together now. Nancy is a very strong woman.