Since 1901, women have been serving in some form of the military officially, however, women had an unofficial role dating back to the American Revolution. Traditionally women have not been allowed in combat occupations but recently these restrictions have been somewhat lifted, making certain combat occupations in most branches of the military available to women. Despite the lift complications arise from women being in combat occupations and it’s not just the physical differences, there is also the risk of sexual assault. Due to the detrimental impact on the military, soldiers, and society, women should not be allowed to be in combat occupations.
The Women's Armed Services Integration Act created in 1948 formed a force of women in all the military departments. This was considered a step in the right direction while also being responsible for current combat restrictions. The act while integrating women into the military also controlled the number of total female service members and formally excluded them from combat duties. The U.S. armed forces female soldiers increased in the “1980s and 1990s, from 8.5 percent to 11.1 percent” (Mackenzie).
The air force is now the most open service for females. “Women have been flying in combat aircrafts since 1993, and they now make up 70 of the 3,700 fighter pilots in the service” (Mackenzie). In January 1994, the “Secretary of Defense Les Aspin overturned the "risk rule" excluding females from any positions that could expose them to direct combat, hostile fire, or capture; the rule was replaced by the "direct ground combat assignment rule," which more narrowly tailored the restriction to frontline combat positions.” (Mackenzie) The problem with the recent policy changes are that the dis...
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Works Cited
Christina M. Hassija, 1,2 Matthew Jakupcak,1,3 Shira Maguen,4,5 and Jillian C. Shipherd6,7,8. "The Influence of Combat and Interpersonal Trauma on PTSD,Depression, and Alcohol Misuse in U.S. Gulf War and OEF/OIF Women Veterans." Journal of Traumatic Stress (2012): 216–219.
Colonel Clark H. Summers, U.S. Army Reserve. "Women The Combat Multiplier of Aysmetrical Warfare." Military Review (2013): 71-78.
Heled, Yoram Epstein • Ran Yanovich • Daniel S. Moran •Yuval. "Physiological employment standards IV: integration of women in combat units physiological and medical considerations." Eur J Appl Physiol (2013): 113:2673–2690.
Mackenzie, Megan H. "Let Women Fight ." Foreign Affairs 91.6 (2012): 32-42.
McNulty, Major Shelley S. "Myth Busted: Women are Serving in Ground Combat Positions." The Air Force Law Review Volume 68 (2010): 120-166.
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
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
"Update: Women in the Military." Issues and Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 29 May 2007. Web.
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.
Many studies have been conducted to see the effect women have on a unit as they have integrated over the years, and in turn these studies have been used to explain how the Army as a whole could overcome the problems of effective cohesion that are bound to happen within the Direct Combat units. Through the results of these studies, social scientists agree that “introducing women into ground combat units would immediately erode those units’ social cohesion” which is not a good combination for certain missions as “in the military, the intimacy and isolation of combat demand high social cohesion” (Wojack). These scientists go on to say that if there is even “high social cohesion” it could also affect routine outcomes as “people start to prioritize friendship and social activities over preforming their jobs”
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.
Lastly there are some concerns that society has about women in combat. It is implied that men can endure a lot of strenuous physical activities were as a woman may not. For example, there may be an issue were a fellow solider may need to be carried to safety, a woman opposed to a man will probably not be able to handle this strenuous task, and because of that standard may have to be lowered to accommodate female applicants, therefore making it easy for anyone who might not be fit to fight in combat roles accepted into those positions. There is also a fear that women can be captured by the enemy and be tortured. This a fear of both men and women but because women are at risk of encountering a misogynistic enemy the chances of rape goes up.
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
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.