G. I. Jane: Women In The Navy Combines Reconnaissance Team

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Issues Paper Rough Draft In today’s world, there is ever increasing pressure for further equality in many areas, particularly gender equality. In many ways, this is very good. People should not be judged by their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, political standing, or background; but rather, by their character, actions, and who they are as a person. Despite the importance of gender equality, is there a line that should, in fact, limit gender equality to some degree? In Ridley Scott’s film, G.I. Jane, the United States Navy is facing political pressure to integrate women into those occupations previously unavailable to females. Lieutenant (LT) Jordan O’Neill is chosen to serve in the Navy Combines Reconnaissance Team (a fictional special …show more content…

Jane brings up an issue of equality that has been a topic of discussion for decades: whether or not women should be allowed to serve in military ground combat and special forces roles. A history of women in the United States military dates back to the American Revolution. It was not uncommon for women to disguise themselves as men and fight alongside the males. More women served in World War I and World War II, primarily in nursing, administrative, and communications support roles (McGraw, et al., “Women in Combat: Framing the Issues of Health and Health Research for America’s Servicewomen,” 7). In 1948, the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act was signed, allowing women to serve as permanent members of the military, though in gender segregated units with a majority of occupations still closed to women. In 1976, the Department of Defense began gender integration of the service academies. (Wechsler Segal, et al., “The Role of Leadership and Peer Behaviors in the Performance and Well-Being of Women in Combat: Historical Perspectives, Unit Integration, and Family Issues, 28). In 1993, women were allowed to serve as fighter pilots, but in 1994, the Department of Defense excluded women from ground combat roles. The topic of gender integration continued to be a heated issue, sparking the release of G.I. Jane in 1997. The role of women in combat has drastically changed during recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Modern warfare no longer has a true “front line,” and many women have actually been “in combat.” This has necessitated recent changes in the military. Women were allowed to serve on board submarines beginning in 2011. In January 2013, then Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta removed the 1994 ban on women in combat, with intentions for full integration as of January 2016 (McGraw, et al., 8). Current Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, declared in December 2015 that all combat roles would be open to women beginning in January 2016. Despite the move

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