The term, neoliberalism, originates from the revival of classical liberalism, which similarly emphasizes free-market economics. While many self-identified liberals in America support government regulation of the economy and social services, neoliberalism is currently related to modern day libertarianism — supporting a free market and smaller government.
The reality is, gender exists on a spectrum — not a binary. So people who identify as one extreme of the spectrum, even if it does not match up with one’s biological sex, are equally valid, and those who identify as a woman should not feel like any less even if they were not born biologically female; what matters is how they feel and identify within.
To those readers who are of a more progressive nature, let me reiterate that it is not your job to constantly actualize activism and cure everyone, primarily those with whom you are close, of the aspects of their principles which you may find distasteful.
For Clara, the hardest part about being a woman in the army is maintaining the balance between asserting her femininity while also garnering respect equal to that of her male peers, a task frequently requiring her to distance herself from her identity as a woman.