Equality In Military

The participation of women in the military has been an issue of great controversy for both the public and the military fraternity. Throughout the decades, men and women have worked in the military under “equal but different” physical fitness standards. Different grading scales for the men and women were introduced, following the realization by the military that these two genders have different physical qualities (Union Resource Center 2015). Women have been provided with the opportunity to pursue military combat roles such as infantry, but special operations and other ground combat roles that require too much physical involvement and a higher level of performance are still off limits. Despite being allowed to occupy some of the same combat

It is important to recognize that the key issues in contention are equality and physical fitness standards. Many times, when the rights of women are being defended “in the name of equality,” greater emphasis is placed on the understanding that women should be given opportunities and allowed to occupy positions and serve similar roles as their male counterparts (Goodman 43). From this perspective, in order to deal with the unfairness that is being perpetrated “in the name of equality,” there are three likely options that the military can pursue, considering the kind of equality that women demand. The first option is lowering the physical fitness standards for men to that of women; the second option is raising the physical fitness standards for women, so they are on par with men’s standards; and the third option is to continue to allow double standards for men and women in the military (The Patriot Dude 2011). The debate on equality between men and women and their level of involvement in the military presents some challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the concept of more lenient fitness standards for women who serve in identical positions as

It implies the state of sameness or being equal, which simply means the same quantity, measure, number or amount as another. In this context, equality between men and women dictates that they would have the same treatment, physical requirements and standards, regardless of gender (Stone 68). The enforcement of such an understanding of equality should not be driven by hidden motives or any kind of political correctness. Military leaders should recognize that equality should not be used as a point of leverage for the existence of double standards which allow women to pursue the same positions and roles as men. Rather, the truthfulness of the word should be strongly stressed. “In the name of equality,” military leaders should ensure that women meet the same physical fitness standards as men, with the main aim being defending the standards of a mission (Smith 2014). Citizens of a nation wish to have a team that is best qualified to defend their lives and freedom. It simply does not matter whether the individuals involved in military operations are females or males. It matters that the soldiers chosen are the most qualified to carry out the roles entrusted to them. In other words, whether it is a man or woman in a given position, the soldier must have the needed emotional, mental and physical competitiveness to accomplish the required mission (Smith 2014). From this point of view and “in the