Umbrella and Parasol Bias

[j_cheney]

From "The Officer's Guide", 1951, under the heading "Taboos" (p. 244)

Umbrellas. There is a longstanding Army taboo against an officer in uniform carrying an umbrella.

Say What? Taboo?!!

When I cornered a retired Army officer and questioned him about this, his only response was a stiff "Umbrellas aren't in the uniform code."

That only made me suspect that there's some dark secret behind this military tradition.

When I asked "If you're walking with a British officer, and he's carrying an umbrella, can you get under it?", the answer was no. Go figure. Evidently, Army officers must rely on their hat covers and other rain gear, which makes me wonder about beach umbrellas and awnings as well....do they have to go out and stand in the rain rather than stay under cover?


I admittedly don't care for umbrellas myself. They never seem to cover enough, and only do any real good in pouring rain. A light rain? I'd rather get wet. And I've never used a parasol. That's the time when I'll actually resort to a hat to protect my permanently freckled face.

I have yet to have a single POV character carry one. The military people? No, they're not going to do that. And I can get away with it, claiming it's just a military taboo! ;o)

Parasols? Imogen probably should carry one, but she's a bit of a hoyden, and doesn't bother. Miralys? She's naturally brown-skinned, so it wouldn't make sense. Other girly-girls I've written? Gosh, I don't do too many of those.

So I suppose I must challenge myself to write a few more girly-girls to get the umbrellas and parasols into play. Hmmm....there must be a good prompt in there somewhere...

Comments

[jess-ka.livejournal.com]

Me, I love umbrellas. I have quite a few, including one with kitty ears and whiskers. The only parasol I have is laquered paper and hanging from the ceiling, though.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I grew up in the desert, so I think I never learned to use them as a child, and it just carried over. And I've noticed my characters seem to share my bias, so that's something I need to work on.

I actualy have an umbrella, a compact one, and I have no idea where it is right now....

However, If I were to get a really cool, painted umbrella (I've seen some neat ones) and make a fashion statement.....mmmmm....and possibly have a sword inside it.....that might sway me ovver to the umbrella camp.

I doubt a parasol is in my future, though. Is yours an Asian painted one? Those are pretty.

[orogeny.livejournal.com]

I like umbrellas -- mostly because getting raindrops in my eyes irritates the hell out of me (and ballcaps just don't cut it for me over a 3-mile walk), and because I'm a lifelong wearer of glasses, so I have a reflex that tells me rain will splotch and steam my glasses, even though I've switched to contacts.

Still, it's hard to picture a person in uniform with an umbrella. It would look odd to me! Which is interesting, because I've never thought about it.

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

I only started carrying and caring about Umbrellas when I was in college. It rained a lot more there...

I hate, HATE compact umbrellas though. All they do is basically keep the top of your head dry. As an undergrad, I got to keep a large golf-style umbrella that was left behind in a court room where I had my internship. And that is the type I carry to this day. I don't like getting wet.

Oh, and I LOVE hats too. As I have gotten older, I've begun to dislike the feel of the hot sun on my face. I have an assortment of staw hats that I wear in the summer months.

While my sister was living in Tuscon, I flirted with the idea of investing in a parasol.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought about it either, until I read that passage a few years ago. This is just Army, but I suspect the other services are the same.

[orogeny.livejournal.com]

You know what would be ironic? A navy guy with an umbrella!

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

From my US Navy days, male sailors and officers were not allowed to use umbrellas. Women were. Also as I recall, any Air Force personnel could use an umbrella.

I don't recall it being a taboo - it was regulation.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I pretty much share your opinion of compact umbrellas... ;o)

I've put an umbrella on my wish list, but I made it a big stick umbrella... ;o)

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

I often wonder what Freud's take on the matter would be?

They are useful to have for those impromptu sword fights. Yeah, sometimes I am as bad as the kids.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I promise, word for word from the Officer's Guide. Taboo...

A more recent officer's guide may have changed it to a regulations.

Interesting that the women were, a difference which might have been extablished when the WAVEs showed up. (I don't know if I have that acronym correct.) This Army Guide covers the WACs briefly, but simply says that the same regulations apply to them. It doesn't say much about the customs, so I don't know whether it includes them into that section about taboos. It does not, however, show umbrellas with their uniforms.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Ah, let's not pursue the Freud thing...that could get into nasty and pointed commentary.

Bad as the kids ::giggles::

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Oh, they could wear upside-down umbrella attachments on their bell-bottoms to keep the splash out!

(Chris G. below says naval officers weren't allowed to have them either.)

[jess-ka.livejournal.com]

Yes, is Chinese, with cherry blossoms. I'd have lots of them hanging from rafters if I had the spare resources.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I like the image ;o)

[dotar-sojat.livejournal.com]

I've heard that umbrellas are getting more common for hikers and backpackers-- they are easy to use (as opposed to fighting your poncho or rain suit out of your pack), and are also useful for keeping the sun off.

There are trade-offs, of course, one hand is tied up with the umbrella, and there could be wind/tree limb issues.

I remember reading in an old (80s) Dress for Success book that men weren't supposed to use umbrellas. Better to wear a hat and a raincoat and drag in a half gallon of water, but you look manly!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I suspect that's why the military does it, too. ;o)

[albogdan.livejournal.com]

As a tradition, I could see umbrellas as really bad gear for the military. They don't prepare you very well for battle. First off, your hands probably should not be used to being encumbered by anything that isn't a weapon. Pointy sticks don't count. You'd better also be ready to deal with rain (or worse) in the face without complaining. And waving something in the air is usually not a really good sign that things are going well if you're in the military.

I remember being young and thinking it not very manly to carry one, but luckily I'm now secure in my masculinity (OK, I'm really just to old to care) and have absolutely no problems carrying one. Preferably black.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Black is macho...

[albogdan.livejournal.com]

He, he. (You got my joke.) :-)

[rcloenen-ruiz.livejournal.com]

Filipinos love umbrellas. Because of the "we want to be whiter" mindset, ladies use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. Rain or shine, we carry umbrellas. I've only learned to de-umbrella here in The Netherlands.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of that. ;o) I shall definitely have to use that somewhere in a story!

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Given that when I'm out and about, my hands are otherwise occupied (keeping me upright and moving) I've never learned to use a umbrella, either, despite living in a very rainy land.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

;o)