In the United States military combat units at battalion level and below have always been closed to women. However, change has been building up over the past decade on opening those closed positions and the Pentagon has decided to officially allow women on the front lines. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta lifted the Defense Department's ban on women in direct ground combat roles January 24, 2013 and on January 1, 2016 women will be able to apply to all military occupational specialties (Roulo). The lifting of this ban has led to a controversial debate with one side firmly against women in combat with the beliefs that women will hinder men emotionally and that women are physically inept to carry out tasks men do in these positions. The other side believes that women are completely capable of both the physical and emotional factors of front line positions because women have always been fighting alongside men. Although these arguments oppose each other they both can agree that women in combat units at battalion levels and below will change the dynamics of the military. The essay “Women in combat a dangerous experiment” argues against women in combat positions. The author, Jerry Boykin, is the executive president of the Family Research Council and served thirty six years in the U.S. Army. He is an original member of Delta Force, the former commander of the Green Berets, and served as Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence (Boykin). Boykin’s believes the decision to lift this ban is ideological and a social experiment that will impair military effectiveness. His first point is that the positions being opened are those that deal directly with the enemy. The positions often involving hand-to-hand combat and physically women a... ... middle of paper ... ...ad, Jennifer. "First women drop out of Marine officer infantry training - Marine Corps - Stripes." Stars and Stripes. Stars and Stripes, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. . Miles, Donna. "Commission to Recommend Lifting Ban on Women in Combat." U.S. Department of Defense. USA.gov, 18 Jan. 2011. Usa.gov. 5 Apr. 2014. . Munsey, Christopher. "Women and war." http://www.apa.org. American Psychological Association, Sept. 2009. Apa.org. 5 Apr. 2014. . Roulo, Claudette. "Defense Department Expands Women’s Combat Role." U.S. Department of Defense. American Forces Press Service, 24 Jan. 2013. www.defense.gov. 12 Apr. 2014. .
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
This is because women have proved themselves to be of equal capability as men, and they have already been serving in combat positions alongside men, though not legally. Fortunately, the Pentagon was able to see this and on December 3, 2015 Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter announced that they would be officially allowing women to serve in all combat positions in the U.S. armed forces. This change in military policy will allow more representation for women in the armed forces but it also represents a major leap towards gender equality, further closing the gap between men and
Harris, Carol. "Women Under Fire in World War Two". BBC News. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2014
Women in the US Military - Civil War Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
"From Home Front to Front Line." Women in War. Ed. Cecilia Lee and Paul Edward Strong. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. The Churchill Centre. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
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.
... The General Accounting Office concluded in a hearing on May 8th 1999 that combat inclusion is the greatest impediment to women attaining higher military rank. Until qualified women are given access to assignments that are central to the militaries mission, they will be marginalized. Sexual harassment is a huge problem
Major General Jeanne M. Holm, In Defense of a Nation: Servicewomen in World War II, (Washington DC, Military Women’s Press) p. 9
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Since the creation of the Selective Service Act of 1917, the role of a woman has evolved from the common role of a housewife, teacher or nurse. Now women have access to and are equally able to join many different career fields that were once gender based. The case Rostker v Goldberg 1981 debated whether or not women should be excluded from the Selective Service Act. Congress came to determine that “since women are excluded from combat roles in the Armed Forces, then they are not similarly situated for the purpose of the draft (Rostker, 1981)”. According to the Army Times in 2012, “The Army will start placing women in as many as 14,000 combat related jobs (Tan, 2012)”. So now, women are able to pursue combative careers in the military.
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. .
Landers, Robert K. "Should women be allowed into combat?" Congressional Quarterly Inc. 13 Oct., Vol. 2, No. 14, pp. 570-582