>Until the twentieth century, women were excluded from war in Western cultures because they were thought to lack strength and aggression and because social attitudes required them to take on a caring and nurturing role. Those women who did want to fight had to disguise themselves as men and some managed to avoid detection for long periods. Types of dress could hide the female form; medical inspections upon enlistment were rare; long hair was not uncommon; armies often contained boy soldiers with their lack of facial hair and higher-pitched voices; and personal hygiene habits were such that washing was not frequent. Discovery usually occurred as a result of illness or wounds. Trooper Christiana ‘Kit’ Welsh’s identity was revealed after she was seriously wounded at the Battle of Ramillies in 1706. Phoebe Hessel, 5th Regiment of Foot, was unmasked after receiving a bayonet wound at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.<
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Date: 2009-10-05 01:46 pm (UTC)personal hygiene habits were such that washing was not frequent. Discovery usually occurred as a result of illness or wounds. Trooper Christiana ‘Kit’ Welsh’s identity was revealed after she was seriously wounded at the Battle of Ramillies in 1706. Phoebe Hessel, 5th Regiment of Foot, was unmasked after receiving a bayonet wound at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.<
http://www.amazon.com/Bold-Her-Breeches-Pirates-Across/dp/0044409702
http://www.cindyvallar.com/womenpirates.html
http://www.amazon.com/Seafaring-Women-Adventures-Stowaways-Sailors/dp/0375758720/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b
http://historyofwomen.org/crossdressers.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-dressing [some examples at the bottom]
Hope that helps
XC