Pros And Cons Of Women In Combat

Women and war have always been considered to have nothing in common. As the more sympathetic gender, women are usually associated with caring and creating life rather than fighting alongside men. Even though women today do have the opportunity to enter the army, they are not officially allowed to enter combat and fight alongside their male companions. In both “The Sirens of the Pentagon” by Kathleen Parker and “From Women in Combat to Top Brass” by Jena McGregor, the various dangers and advantages of women in combat are defined. The dangers to women in combat are outweighed by advantages such as empowerment to young women and promotion in rank.

There are many dangers to having women in combat. One is that they are at a greater risk for capture.“... Females have only half the upper body strength as males…”(Parker,110). Individuals who hold this belief clearly agree that women lack the body strength

that is necessary to perform in combat. They would have problems with operating heavy military equipment used on the field, such as the guns, and since it'll be harder for them to handle, pulling them out will take longer, giving the enemy time to shoot first. In addition, they would also have problems with carrying a wounded soldiers to safety if needed.
On the other hand, an advantage of allowing women into combat is that it offers empowerment to other young women.

It gives them a mindset that they are capable of doing what men can do. As McGregor writes, when it was announced “... that the military would be lifting the policy against women in combat… {it}was met with cheers and applause by politicians, female soldiers, and the president” (McGregor,114). Clearly this reaction had a powerful effect on younger females, giving them the ability and authority, to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including young and old. Also, McGregor wrote that “... Linda Bray led military police officers during … the invasion of Panama…”(114). Women have served in the military for hundreds of years. They've worked hard and have been dedicated to the troops and their country. Although the argument still stands that women should not be allowed in combat, the empowerment aspect identifies with several young women who want to make choices and turn them into desired actions and

outcomes.
Another advantage of allowing women into combat is that it provides an opportunity for promotion in rank. On war grounds, or in our everyday jobs, allowing women into combat shows that we, as females, can and will put our hearts and minds to the task at hand anywhere we tend to go. McGregor states that “... allowing more women to take on combat roles will clear the way for more women in the military's top brass”(115). This is a guaranteed advantage because women weren't allowed such higher positions that men were. Men were the dominant gender, but allowing women into combat offers promotion in rank which leads to gender equality. McGregor enhances the idea of promotion when she talks about the increased leadership roles that will be provided to females after policy changes and training. She also discusses how the role that combat provides with experience “...stand out when it comes to nominations to higher posts”(114).
Although it remains that women can experience many dangers in combat, as well as men, the advantages of allowing women into combat clearly outweigh these dangers. Being that giving women this opportunity, they become role models and inspire other women to go and fight for what they believe in. Women in combat also gives other women the opportunity of knowing they can be allowed promotions. Both empowerment to young women and promotion in rank allow women to think with a powerful mindset.