Informative Essay: The Role Of Women In Duty

For years, many women were antiwar and antimilitarist; however, that is not the case today. Since the United States military established an all- volunteer force in 1973, the number of women serving on active duty increased dramatically. In 1973, there were 42,000 military women on active duty; today there are around 200,000 military women in active duty. This topic is sociologically relevant because in January of 1993 the Secretary of Defense modified the “rule risk” which previously prohibited women from certain noncombat units to expand opportunities for women in combat. However, Under the Department of Defense, many career fields whose primary missions are direct ground combat, still remain closed to women. This policy excludes women from

The effects of women in combat have impacted society at large, leading to issues surrounding military women, their families and the society. One issue that arises is the strain put on military families when their wife and/or mother is on deployment. 48% of all women in the military marry fellow service members and 40% of military women have children. Marriages of female military members are more often to end in divorce. Military women are three times more likely to divorce than military men. Today society shows that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Of the women in combat, 12% are single mothers. Today, the US military has the highest number of parents among its active-duty service members. Statistics show that children in military families are at greater risks for emotional and behavioral problems. And an even greater risk is posed to children of single military parents. Military mothers deployment can have a very negative effect on the health and behavior of both the woman and their child/children. About 50% of military women say they have experienced a strain in family relations and 42% feel that they have suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder. This makes their transition into normal civilization very