he cadets are able to look past what society may view as sexual tensions and convert showering together into a “family affair”. This is one of many things that men are only able to do within a hidden transcript. The presence of enhanced physical affection among males is also evidence of the increased comfort level outside of the public eye. Faludi observes the existence of many photos in the school’s yearbook, which depicts men showing physical friendliness towards each other openly. However, the photos are “always carefully disarmed with a jokey caption” (298).But perhaps the most significant evidence of the capacity for the open behavior of men in a hidden transcript is the acceptance of homosexuality. Faludi discusses her visit to the local “mixed” bar in her essay. It is not uncommon for cadets to date drag queens. In fact, it seems to be a trend.There are thousands of cadets, presumably, who have not dated drag queens, but in two visits to the Treehouse I could only find two drag queens out of maybe a dozen who did not tell me of dating a cadet. (300)This reception, and perhaps fad of being dating drag queens proves the comfort level and openness of transcript at the Citadel. Naturally, there are some tendencies to revert back to the acceptable ways of society even with all of this hidden freedom. The men often experience shame or feel the need to explain their actions. The unconscious inclination to do this shows the immense hold that society’s standards has on these men. For instance, the captions underneath the yearbook photos act as a justification for the affectionate acts, and the cadets occasionally blame the drag queens for their sexual interactions. “Thy think they want it, then afterwards they turn on you like you made them do it” (300).The violence prominent within the Citadel walls among the cadets can also be explained using the ideas of Scott. In...
