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The role of women in the armed forces
The role of women in the armed forces
The role of women in the armed forces
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Over the years, several soldiers have given their lives up to protect the citizens of America. Not many realize that many of these soldiers are women and have played a major role in fighting for our country. Whether they were stationed to provide medical assistance or fought on the front lines is not important. Their participation alone, with a simple motivation to preserve the peace and security of the United States, should be applauded more than it has been today. Despite biological differences, women have significantly contributed to the military over the years through their medical services and their participation in 95% of all military occupations, and, therefore, all constituents of U.S. armed forces should reinforce the idea of women in combat in order to eliminate the sexist stereotypes prevalent today.
Women’s participation in the military should be supported because their contribution will enhance military readiness today and in the years to come. Combat readiness measures the ability of any military unit to succeed and complete its mission. In our world, majority of today’s military consists of men with women in minor positions or services. With the number of women in the military increasing, more units can be formed to serve the country efficiently. In addition, women can then choose from several fields in the military itself to serve in. According to Margaret C. Harrell and Laura L. Miller, integration in the military has positively influenced leadership, training, and workload. To them, the potential of women is equal to the potential of men in the armed forces. A survey was taken to understand readiness level from the perspective of military members themselves. Most officers felt that their readiness ...
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...ced inequitable discrimination is the field of military, where the main purpose is to secure peace in the country. Women serving in the military have taken part in numerous operations throughout the world. Training next to their male counterparts, they should be treated as equals, but instead they are attacked by traditionalists who feel their involvement in the army is unnecessary. Women should not be discouraged in the field of army service because they contribute the same efforts that men do and also add value to every military unit with their inherent qualities like patience and perseverance. By changing the policies of women’s service in the army, the world can finally recognize the achievements and contributions that female officers have made. No one or no company has the right to tell a woman that she is barred from a profession merely because she is a woman.
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
Many women during WWII experienced things that they had never done before. Before the war began women were supposed to be “perfect”. The house always had to be clean, dinner ready on the table, laundry done, and have themselves as well as their children ready for every event of the day. Once the war began and men were drafted, women had to take on the men’s role as well as their own. Women now fixed cars, worked in factories, played baseball, handled the finances, and so forth. So, what challenges and opportunities did women face on the home front during WWII? Women had many opportunities like playing baseball and working, they also faced many hardships, such as not having enough food, money, and clothing.
Woman were important during World War II because the men were fighting in war so women had to fill in the jobs and roles of the men. There were advertisements to encourage women to take the jobs of the men, the women joined nursing corps and armed forces so more men could be sent into battle. Nobody wanted women to join the military but after the attack on Pearl Harbor, they decided to let women join the Army, Navy and Coast Guards.
With society’s past and present it is apparent that women are still not equal even if they have the title. Men are observably stronger and have a different mentality in situations than women. This is not to say that women should not be in the military but they should have the choice that way they can accept the responsibility and train themselves mentally and physically to achieve the responsibility and respect needed to fight for our country.
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 women around the world have big responsibilities in the military, and although some people may disagree, I believe they can handle anything a man can handle when it comes to being on the battlefield. Some people think that women should not be able to fight in the military, where as other people think they should be able to fight in the military. Each supporter and non-supporter has their own reasons. Some of the reasons for the non-supporters are because of their gender. They think that because they are women, they cannot handle the challenges that being on the battlefield brings. Women are willing to fight, and they know what can happen, they know exactly what can happen. They are willing to fight for their country, and I believe they should be able to. The men that fight for our country are against women fighting in combat. They believe that women are not capable of doing what they do to defend and fight for our country. The men feel that they cannot trust women to help back them up at war simply because of the fact that they are women.
The signing of the Women’s Armed Service Integration Act increased women’s interest in the military. Women were now able to take o...
Patten, Eileen, and Kim Parker. "Women in the U.S. Military: Growing Share, Distinctive Profile." Pew Research Centers Social Demographic Trends Project RSS. N.p., 22 Dec. 2001. Web. 28 Feb. 2014. .
Gender integration in the military has always faced the question of social acceptance, whether society can accept how women will be treated and respected in the military. Throughout the history of the military, our leadership has always sought ways in how to integrate without upsetting the general public if our females were captured as prisoners of war, raped, discriminated or even blown up in combat. My paper will discuss three situations pertaining to the first female submariner, fighter pilot and infantry graduate. I will also discuss some of the arguments that male military leaders and lawmakers opposed the integration of women: lack of strength, endurance, and the disruption of unit cohesion. I will end this paper with my personnel experience as a female NCO responsible for other female subordinates within my command and share some of their experiences while deployed in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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
The U.S. military. Different branches. Different jobs. Different people. Different motives.
Skaine, Rosemarie. “Properly Trained Servicewomen Can Overcome Physical Shortcomings.” Women at War: Gender Issues of Americans in Combat (1999). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. University of South Alabama Library. 15 July 2006 .