United States Navy Women
There are many women and men in the United States Navy but it was not easy for women to be able to join the military. Women have had a rough past and fight with gaining the right to join. Women in the Navy are one of the greatest additions to the Navy. Although opposers will say that they do not belong there, women in the United States Navy have proven that they do belong because many women have overcome gender-based biases, made great historical impact, and lead combat situations over men successfully.
The first reason that women in the United States Navy have proven that they do belong is because many women have overcome gender-based biases. In Brian Mitchell’s book ‘Women in the Military: Flirting with Disaster’ he clearly states his opposition of women being in the military. “Forthe opponents of integration, the requirement that the authority of the service ‘must be exercised within a program providing for the orderly and expeditious admission of women’ meant that there would be no ‘survival of the fittest’ in the admissions process: the services were compelled to admit some women one way or another.” He believes that women are not worthy of being admitted to the services and that it is a requirement forced upon the services to select amount women.
However, women do deserve it because many women have taken these criticisms in stride and have proven that they do belong. The numbers alone of women in the Navy is solid evidence of this. As of December 27th2013 the number of active duty women in the Navy was 53,385 which accounts for 16.4% of the branch. The only branch of the military which beats that is the Air Force with 63,552 active duty women which accounts for 19.1% of the branch. The sheer numbers ...
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..., which includes the front lines. Panetta's statement at a Pentagon news conference defends that women belong in combat:
Women have shown great courage and sacrifice on and off the battlefield, contributed in unprecedented ways to the military's mission and proven their ability to serve in an expanding number of role... The department's goal in rescinding the rule is to ensure that the mission is met with the best-qualified and most capable people, regardless of gender.
Women have proven that they belong and the ban on them being in combat has been lifted because they have shown that they meet not only the minimum requirements but go above and beyond.
So as you can see, women in the United States Navy have proven that they do belong because many women have overcome gender-based biases, made great historical impact, and lead combat situations over men successfully.
During their time at the New York Navy Yard, women received the same treatment as men. There were many female ship fitters. In May of 1943, there were 1,080 women welders. The shipyard once fused two destroyers that had many bad parts into one good ship. Accomplishments like this are what brought on their nickname, the "Can do navy yard.
Within Megan H. Mackenzie’s essay, “Let Women Fight” she points out many facts about women serving in the U.S. military. She emphasizes the three central arguments that people have brought up about women fighting in the military. The arguments she states are that women cannot meet the physical requirements necessary to fight, they simply don’t belong in combat, and that their inclusion in fighting units would disrupt those units’ cohesion and battle readiness. The 1948 Women’s Armed Services Integration Act built a permanent corps of women in all the military departments, which was a big step forward at that time. Although there were many restrictions that were put on women, an increase of women in the U.S. armed forces happened during
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.
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?
In 1973, women began to grow in numbers in the All-Volunteer Force implemented under President Nixon. “In February 1988, Department of Defense (DoD) codified the Combat Exclusion Policy by adopting the ‘Risk Rule’”, (the DoD Combat Exclusion Policy) pg. 21, 22. The change of the feminine role in the civilian population has forced a review of their presence in the Armed Forces. These roles reviewed after the onset of the Exclusion Law in “1967 when the statutory strengths and grade limitations were lifted” (…GOA, pg 4) as well as in 1978 when positions available to women were expanded (…GOA). In 1992 and 1993 when the “Defense Authorization Acts were implemented, congress revoked the prohibition of women’s assignments to combat aircraft… and in January 1994 the ‘Risk Rule’ was rescinded” (the DoD Combat Exclusion Policy) pg 22. With the 1994 change in the “Risk Rule”, assignments were available for females in all services to participate in all available positions. Exceptions of “assignments to units below the brigade level whose primary mission is direct ground combat” (the DoD Combat Exclusion Policy) pg 22(ibid) were put in place.
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?
Should women be in Combat? The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 prevents any women from serving in combat. In January of 2013, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, after receiving a recommendation from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to lift this ban and open combat roles to women. However, there is some speculation on whether or not women are physically capable of performing in combat jons.
The story of America’s military woman can be traced to the birth of our nation. During the American Revolutionary War, the 18th and 19th centuries, where women served informally as nurses, seamstresses, cooks, and even as spies and were subject to Army’s rules of Conduct. Though not in uniform, these women shared soldier’s hardships including inadequate housing and little compensation. Women have formally been part of the U.S Armed Forces since the Inception of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901. In 1973 the transition to the All-Volunteer Force marked a dramatic increase in the opportunities available for women to serve in the military. As of September 30, 2009, the total number of active duty women in the U.S was 203, 375, and women made up 14.3 percent of the U.s armed forces (Robinson). Women are a crucial role in c...
However, women are not barred from entering every aspect of the military. They can serve on surface ships, submarines, combat aircrafts, and fly
During my time overseas, I served with several women on numerous combat missions. I will agree there are certain combat roles that are perfect for women to execute. I have watched them excel in these positions, serving bravely with the men around them on the
Currently, approximately 203,000 military members, or 14.5 % of the military, are women. Still, some have doubts about how useful they can be. Though women have been efficient in tactical operations and on the front line, some claim they are unfit for service. Women deserve an equal chance in military positions because they possess the ability to work with men physically and have the same mental capacity as men, even outperforming them in
One of the most controversial topics of the early 2000’s is whether or not to accept women into combat roles, on the front lines, in the U.S. military. Plenty of men and women around the country are attempting to instate equality of the genders in the 21st century. This would be a gargantuan step in equalizing the genders, as being a decorated member of the military is one of the most highly respected achievements among most cultures. Women should be allowed to serve on the front lines if they have the ability to meet all of the same standards of a male candidate including, but not limited to physical ability, because of yearning for equality of the sexes, better diversity amongst the military, and by having the ability to choose the best possible candidate for the job in question.
Intro: One of the first things people say when asked if women should be allowed on the front line is that they are incapable of doing what a man can do, but that is not accurate. The comparison of males and females and their abilities is more of a societal image than a reality. Yes, there are differences, such as a man cannot have a baby, but beyond that, the reality of it is there are short and tall, small and muscled, brave and scared people of both genders.
...into play that could affect how women perform in dangerous situations. Women are doing an outstanding job performing and magnifying their current positions in the military. We need to be satisfied and recognize our limitations as humans and soldiers. The role of women has always played an important role in military history. By leaving them out of combat their reputation can remain untainted.
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.