Although it has a predominantly male identity, the military has many female characteristics. Being a member of the military requires “collective action, organization, submissiveness, obedience, fidelity, and cooperation” which are all considered to be feminine qualities (Matthews 2009). Women have indirectly been involved in combat for many years as nurses and other medical personnel which are all exposed to combat during war. The Army’s policy definition of direct combat includes “engaging an enemy,” “being exposed to direct enemy fire,” and “closing with the enemy” (Harrell). Women should not be excluded from any aspect, or only restricted to certain aspects of the military when they sign up to join. Women should be allowed to be assigned to military combat roles in active duty.
Not allowing women to participate in active combat duty is discrimination. The definition of discrimination according to Oxford Dictionary online is “The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex” (Oxford Dictionaries). Women are being treated differently because of their gender. People may argue that women are not strong enough to complete the tasks needed to fulfill a military position but females aren’t even given the same training, or even the same amount to time to prepare themselves to be able to keep up with the male units. They do their day to day jobs while the men are out training and preparing, and then are just randomly attached to the male unit sometime during the day for training (McNulty 2012). The men also had new, light weight versions of the necessary equipment to train with while the women were handed older versions of the gear that were heavier. Several...
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...ica, CA: RAND National Defense Research Institute.
Mather, M., Lighthall, N., Nga, L., & Gorlick, M. (2010, July 4). Sex differences in how stress affects brain activity during face viewing. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from http://www-scf.usc.edu/~nlightha/Mather_etal_NeuroReport.pdf
McNulty, S. S. (2012). MYTH BUSTED: WOMEN ARE SERVING IN GROUND COMBAT POSITIONS. Air Force Law Review, 68119-165.
Matthews, M. D., Ender, M. G., Laurence, J. H., & Rohall, D. E. (2009). Role of Group Affiliation and Gender on Attitudes Toward Women in the Military. Military Psychology (Taylor & Francis Ltd), 21(2), 241-251. doi:10.1080/08995600902768750
Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved April 14, 2014, from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/discrimination
U.S Army (n.d.). Army Careers: Ways to Serve in the Army. Retrieved April 12, 2014, from http://goarmy.com
The Aberdeen Proving Ground sexual assault investigation was initiated by a trail of complaints submitted by women trainees who reported assaults perpetrated by drill sergeants on the base. Females were no strangers to military service, however, this 1996 investigation was the beginning of a series of female complaints that brought attention to the service of women in the military, (Titunik, 2000). In 1991, the largest enrollment of women soldiers was recorded during the Persian War. This marked a propelling increase in the amount of women enlisting for military service. During Persian War, Congress would finally allow women to serve in combat (Titunik, 2000).
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
In the Upfront Magazine Article “Women Warriors”, author Rebecca Zissou told the story of two women who recently graduated the Army’s Ranger School, but whether they would be able to serve alongside their fellow male graduates was unknown. Zissou also delved into the issue of whether or not women should be allowed to serve in combat positions. However, I believe that women should be allowed to serve in combat positions in the U.S. armed forces.
With society’s past and present it is apparent that women are still not equal even if they have the title. Men are observably stronger and have a different mentality in situations than women. This is not to say that women should not be in the military but they should have the choice that way they can accept the responsibility and train themselves mentally and physically to achieve the responsibility and respect needed to fight for our country.
excluded from a number of jobs for no other reason than stereotyping, ideas of the inferiority of women in combat, and the chauvinistic thought of if their not there it wont happen. Remember none of the reason that I listed above would be sufficient for a government employer to legally close jobs to women so why is it different in our Armed Service?
"Update: Women in the Military." Issues and Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 29 May 2007. Web.
There was a time when women were unable to enlist and thought of as one who maintains her home and keeps her husband happy. That has changed along with the growth of our nation. Women are now able to join the military as well as serving in jobs of combat. Our servicewomen have gone through plenty and fought for where they are within our military ranks. So why are they feeling punished for being a female in the military?
When it comes to combat assignments and the needs of the military, men take precedence over all other considerations, including career prospects of female service members. Female military members have been encouraged to pursue opportunities and career enhancement within the armed forces, which limit them only to the needs and good of the service due to women being not as “similarly situated” as their male counterparts when it comes to strength or aggressiveness, and are not able to handle combat situations.
Historically, women’s participation in combat roles was limited or hidden, with the exception of a few individuals. Although women had fought unofficially in the U.S army as far back as the Revolutionary War, which they usually disguised themselves as men in order to avoid the rules that excluded them. The gender war and integration in the military has always faced the question of social acceptance, were as society can accept how women will be treated and respected in the military. Throughout the history of the military, our leadership has always sought ways of how to integrate without upsetting the general public to believing that women are capable and created equal as any man.
The problem of women fighting in combat along with their male counterparts is not a one-sided problem. Elizabeth Hoisington has earned the rank of Brigadier General in the U.S. Army, leads the Women’s Army Corps and believes that women should not serve in combat because they are not as physically, mentally, or emotionally qualified as a male is and that ...
...nto a situation of high testosterone, women are not considered to be a threat. Military research now however, has shown that women have the physical stamina to endure battle and do not disrupt the cohesion in the male units and can also be mentally tough without breaking when under fire. Women are not only discriminated against in the military, they are also discriminated against in Philosophy, religion, and Popular Culture.
Ruby, J. (2005, November 1). Women in Combat Roles: Is That the Question?. Off Our Backs,35, 36.
Both men and women fought on the battlefield. Hundreds of women served as nurses, laundresses, cooks and companions to the male soldiers in the Continental Army.6 In addition, there were some that actually engaged in battle. Seeing "no reason to believe that any consideration foreign to the purest patriotism,"7 Deborah Sampson put on men's clothing and called herself Robert Shirtliffe in order to enlist in the Army. "Robert Shirtliffe" fought courageously; "his" company defeated marauding Indians north of Ticonderoga.8 There is also the valiancy of the water carrier Mary Hays, otherwise known as Molly Pitcher, who took up arms after her husband fell.9 As a six-foot tall woman, Nancy Hart was considered an Amazon Warrior. Living in the Georgia frontier, this "War Woman" aimed and, with deadly accuracy, shot British soldiers who invaded the area.10 Mentioned in the beginning of this essay was Margaret Corbin, another woman on the battlefield.
Many agree, that in certain military occupations, women can function at the same level as men. The controversy about having women fighting with men in wars is the fact that they have a different physical structure, deal with stress and emotions differently , are more susceptible to injury and just don't have the killer instinct necessary to get the job done. Although the last statement might appear to be a stereotype, most women would not be capable of supporting the demanding rigors of war-like situations. It would be a great mistake to allow women in these stressful and dangerous situations.
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.