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Should Women Be Allowed In Combat?

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Women have been fighting for equality throughout history. They have fought for their right to vote and they didn’t get that right until the year 1920. They have also proven that they aren’t just a housewife that they can get a job and make their own money and don’t need a man to take care of them. Women have shown that they can do many things, but some people still don’t see that. Women, who make up some 14 percent of the armed forces, should finally be permitted to serve fully in combat along with men. Opponents of putting women in combat question whether they have the necessary strength and stamina. They also have said the inclusion of women in infantry and other combat units may harm unit cohesion, this is similar to the argument regarding …show more content…

Similarly, comitatus was a “Germanic friendship structure that compelled kings to rule in consultation with their warriors, forming a warband.” It’s essentially the “bond existing between a Germanic warrior and his Lord, ensuring that neither leaves the field of battle before the other.” Craig Gallatin, a retired Lt. Colonel in the Army and graduate of Ranger School had this to say, “My concern with having both sexes in the same front line combat unit would be one of genetics. Throughout history men, especially American men, have been conditioned and trained to protect women. This will not be overcome easily and will result in men (and women) possibly losing their lives in combat because coms soldier ignored his primary duty (even if only for a moment) to “protect” the women fighting next to him. Shouldn’t be, shouldn’t happen, but it will. Sexual liaisons, though repeatedly dismissed among proponents of women in combat as prosaic are also a legitimate concern. It’s just human nature. Gallatin observed, “Men and women are attracted to each other emotionally and sexually. This will create disruption in the unit and, in combat, possibly cost lives and/or mission accomplishment. It happens frequently in non-combat units where men and women are assigned. Jealousy, etc. are very disruptive things. It is genetic will not be overcome by training.” (Qtd. in

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