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Importance of women soldiers in the military
Women should serve in the armed forces
Solutions to gender discrimination in the military
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Recommended: Importance of women soldiers in the military
In late 1990 and early 1991, thousands of American women marched off to the desert sands of the Middle East to serve in a war that brought women closer to combat than ever before. Although restricting women from occupying military jobs that would put them into direct contact with the enemy can be interpreted as a form of sex discrimination, as a female veteran of Operation Desert Storm, I believe that the restriction should remain as it is. Lifting this ban would not be a strategic move for the United States. Socially, our country is unprepared to allow women on the "front lines" because of situations involving sexual harassment, prisoners of war, mothers marching off to combat, and female draftees.
Sexual harassment is a tremendous problem in our society that for years has been hushed. But recently this problem has been brought to public attention, and the government has passed laws that make sexual harassment in the work place a criminal act. However, only futile attempts have been made at eliminating such misconduct in the military. The effects of the aggressive treatment that women experienced during Operation Desert Storm were noted by Elaine Connely, Executive of the Coalition for Military Readiness:
Then there were the sexual tensions that did not respond to bureaucratic mandates for professionalism in the work place . . . . There were many reports of illegal fraternization, genuine sexual harassment, and elevated pregnancy rate-all of which seriously affected readiness and morale. (Donnelly 41)
The readiness and morale of the soldiers in the Middle East were affected by this country's inability to treat women and men as equals. Some radical women's movement groups believe that until...
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...l with the fact that if women are allowed to serve in direct combat military specialties, then all women may have to be included in the Selective Service.
Works Cited
Donnelly, Elaine. "What Did You Do in the Gulf Mommy?" National Review Nov. 1991: 41- 44.
Elshtain, Jeaned Bethke. "Feminism and War." The Progressive Sept. 1991: 14-16.
Evans, Rowland and Robert Novak. "Women & Combat." The Augusta Chronicle Nov. 1992: A4.
O'Briene, Kate Walsh. "The Bottom Line: Coed Combat Would Not Improve the Military." The Augusta Chronicle 3 Dec. 1992: A4.
Schlafly, Phyllis. "Keep Women From Combat." USA Today 15 June 1992: A12.
Towell, Pat. "Women's Combat Role Debated as Chiefs Denounce Sex Bias." Congressional Quarterly 1 Aug. 1992: 2292-93.
Willis, Grant. "Commission Says a Woman's Place is Not in Combat." Army Times 16 Nov. 1992: 4+.
The military is trying to find new ways to recognize the fact that women now fight in the country’s wars. In 2011 the Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommended that the Department of Defense remove all combat restrictions on women. Although many jobs have been opened for women in the military, there is still 7.3 percent of jobs that are closed to them. On February 9, 2012, George Little announced that the Department of Defense would continue to reduce the restrictions that were put on women’s roles. The argument that “women are not physically fit for combat” is the most common and well-researched justification for their exclusion from fighting units. It has been proven if women go through proper training and necessary adaptations, they can complete the same physical tasks as any man. Though there seem to be many reasons from the exclusion of women in the military, the main ones have appeared to be that they do not have the strength to go through combat, would be a distraction to the men, and that they would interrupt male bonding and group
Kitfield, James. “The Enemy Within”. The National Journal. 13 September 2012. Web. 4 November 2013 http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-military-s-rape-problem-20120913
Since the resolution of World War II, the United States has been involved in over fifteen extensive military wars. Recent wars between Iraq and Afghanistan are being fought over several issues which affect women in both the United States and the other nations. While the military is often thought of a male dominated institution, women are present and affected all throughout the system as soldiers, caretakers, partners, and victims. Transnational feminists often fight against war due to the vulnerability that is placed on women during times of war. Despite often being overlooked, there is no doubt that women are heavily included in the devastating consequences of war.
Should women serve in combat positions? The Combat Exclusion Law has dealt with this question since the 1940’s. As time continues, the question remains. The military has increased the percentage of females allowed to be enlisted and commissioned in the services as well as increasing the positions allotted to them (Matthews, Ender, Laurence, & Rohall, 2009). Keenan posits “women have served with distinction in … the Revolutionary War…as volunteer nurses and were only occasionally in the direct line of fire…four nurses evacuating 42 patients while the Germans bombed their field hospital…” (the DoD Combat Exclusion Policy) pg. 21.
Kirkwood, R. Cort. "Women Should Not Be Eligible for the Draft." Gale Opposing Viewpoints. 2008. Web. 20 Mar. 2012.
The US Military has a long history and jaded history of issues with sexual assault. The number of women sexually assaulted in the US Military is 5% higher than that of women in the ficivilian population; there are an estimated 20,000 sexual assaults on women service members each year. This is not, however, a strictly female problem; it is estimated that nearly half of...
Goldstein, Joshua (2001) War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice Versa. Cambridge University Press.
Ruby, J. (2005, November 1). Women in Combat Roles: Is That the Question?. Off Our Backs,35, 36.
Burke, Colleen. "Women and Militarism." Women and Militarism. Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Web. 05 May 2012. .
It is estimated that 80% of women employed in certain male-dominated professions may experience sexual harassment (Murdoch & Nichol, 1995). More women die from workplace violence than from job-related accidents, and 42% of women’s workplace injuries stem from nonfatal assaults (Sadler, Booth, Nielson, & Doebbeling, 2000). Military service a highly masculinized environment that may heighten the risk of workplace violence and women are twice more likely than men to be assaulted at work (Sadler, Booth, Cook, & Doebbeling, 2003). Acker (2008) argued that sexual domination of women is constructed and embedded within work organization, and sexual harassment is not a component of the work organization but instead it is a
The National Security Council is a component of the Executive Office of the President, which has a policy against sexual harassment and discrimination, but because NSC staff includes personnel that is detailed from other departments and agencies, those staff members must also comply with the training and anti-harassment policies of their home agency. The also letter suggests that the spectrum of harassment that women face - from inappropriate comments and behavior to unconscious bias in promotion and hiring - could be keeping them from ascending to leadership positions at the federal agencies that deal with national
Every test they passed, every tear they shed, and every life they saved proved there worthiness. Every woman, past or present, in the military has proven they are ready, willing, and able to defend our country. When a boy turns 18 he is required to sign up for the selected service; however, girls are not held to the same standard. Brooke Stedman, a member of the Women in International Security, stated, If we wish to uphold and promote gender equality, then women should also be required to enroll in Selective Service.
I woke up to the bright sun in my eyes. I hopped up with so much excitement, hoping and praying that rain was not in the forecast today. I ran around the house and woke everybody up screaming, “TODAY IS THE DAY!”. I waited almost a life time for this day, PROM. In my head, I planned on making nothing but good memories. My friends and I was going to party until the sun came up. After losing a friend, I realized too much partying isn’t always fun.
Landers, Robert K. "Should women be allowed into combat?" Congressional Quarterly Inc. 13 Oct., Vol. 2, No. 14, pp. 570-582
Should women be allowed in the military? My answer was at first a resounding “no.” However, once I started my research, my opinion changed. In 1948, Congress passed the combat exclusion law that prohibited women in the Air Force, Marines, and Navy to hold combat positions; however, the Army can assign these duties as they see fit (Schroeder). Some people assume that Americans are not ready to see a woman wounded or killed in war; however, there are female police officers that are wounded or killed daily (Schroeder). How can we rationalize that a woman has the right to die protecting our local communities but not our country? If a person chooses to be in a combat field, and can pass the physical demands required, gender should not be an issue. The arguments of physical differences and cohesion among the troops are valid arguments but not substantial enough to prevent women from serving in frontline combat roles within the military.