The armed forces are the ones who protect and serve our country. Back then the military, the navy, and the air force had one thing in common—they only recruited the men to serve and protect. Now over time women were finally allowed to serve along sides the men, but not without putting a fight about being equal in the armed forces. The author Rosalind Chait Barnett, who is a scientist and a director and the Brandeis University, wrote the article “Women and Work: Where Are We, Where Did We Come From, and Where Are We Going?” which talks about the past of of only the women being oppressed. Martha McSally, who is a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center and is also retired from the U.S. Air Force, wrote the article “Defending America in Mixed Company: Gender in the U.S. Armed Forces” in which she talks about the topic of inequality as a whole. Lastly, Andrew Tilghman, who is the editor for Navy Times and Marine Corps Times and was also the Pentagon bureau chief, wrote the article “All combat jobs open to women in the military” which talks about the issue of being a woman in the military. All of these authors help support the idea of genders in the military and their successes and well as their struggles. Barnett helps both McSally and Tilghman as they try and prove that gender equality should exist in the military. Barnett talks about the past and how the women were being oppressed. She pretty much starts this topic of gender equality which the other authors use
For decades, men have been the ones that were drafted into the army while the women had to fulfill their roles as housewives at home. Countless wars have passed before women were able to fight and serve for their country, such as but not limited to: the American Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI, and WWII. It wasn’t until 1948 that congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration act which permitted women to officially serve in the military and receive veteran’s benefits. Still today, there are stereotypes about women and the fact that they should not have as much involvement in military roles, even after an act has been passed for that specific reason. In a New York Times online and print article, “Arms and the Women,” Gail Collins argues that “the system is complicated”
Women in the military should have the same opportunities as men. Just as women have fought to have equal rights and pay in the corporate work place women of the military are fighting to have equal opportunities. Women in the military want to have no limitations put on their success or dreams based on their gender. Before reading this article my understanding of this topic was nonexistent. In my own experience, I have found it difficult for women in the work force to be promoted at the same rate that men are. They are also often not given the opportunity to apply for the supervisor positions available. This essay makes me think of all the progress that has been made for women’s rights but also identifies the changes that still need to be made to ensure the men and women have equal
I realized that although in theory women in the armed forces seemed like a good idea, there are many obstacles that make that reality very difficult to achieve. In writing this paper I am not proposing that either position is more valid or right than the other. I only hope to present each side in an equal light to help others to understand the issues involved.
I agree with women participating in combat. I feel women are sometimes minimized and overlooked to the things that they can and are capable of doing. If I was to serve in the military I would not be affected by someone of a different gender. I believe that can only happened if a female does not have the self-esteem and confidence that they need. When someone has these things, there is nothing that can bring someone down or have a person feeling less than what they are. Years ago, a lot of the jobs women did in the military were not at all dangerous. They were not allowed to do certain things in the military because they are women. Today women and men are put on for the same jobs. I think although we as a society have not reached the level
Our military has been around for over 241 years, establishing its strength and developing itself to be one of the strongest, most potent, and patriotic military's of the world. Our military, consisting of the five branches (Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Coast Guard) as of October 1st, 2016 opened all military occupational specialties (MOS) to females. This may be one of the largest leaps in history that our country has made. However, with women's roles in the combat being changed they are required to pass all training with the same standards males have. This questions the service and brings to a debate on why the double standards in place today still remain. With the exception of females in combat meeting male requirements to qualify, I come to question the effects that these double standards have on the U.S. military, both past and present, in regards to the military's strength as a unit and the effects that they have on bringing together the members as one team despite these differences inflicted by gender. Both men and women of the service have the possibility to stand alongside one another while representing the same face-value and quality as
For years, women’s rights advocates have been calling for an expansion and inclusion of women in all military positions. The argument is that women have already been in combat and these feminist groups asserts that the current exclusion of women is a form of sex discrimination. While it is true that women have in been in a firefight, these women on the ground are mostly auxiliary forces serving as medics or liaisons for female civilians.
For years women have been trying to gain gender equality throughout the working world, along with in the military. Since the beginning of a uniformed military, women could not serve in military occupational specialty (MOS) positions that put them in direct combat roles. Although many women have contributed in significant ways, they have not been authorized to serve in MOS such as infantry, artillery, or armor. As the war on terrorism has developed since 9/11, women have slowly worked their way farther into the military and its many roles. This resulted in women being placed into direct combat roles. Though women have been allowed into many different roles, there is still one battle that they have yet to win and this time the majority is not backing them. Women are trying to gain access to United States Special Operations units in every branch of the military and the majority of these operators are not happy about it. While some people believe women deserve equality and the chance to do what men can do in the military, that is why women should not be
In the article “Women in the Military” mentions the women have been joining the military since 2000. Besides that, women who serve the military do require a lot of physical requirement because of stereotypical thinking of women being weak. Even more, some commanders want more women to participate in the use of technology. Women tried fighting this kind of idea but managed to fail; In 2003 young women named Lynch was the only survivor of an insurgent attack in Iraq, which motivated more women to join the army. Even more, women that join the army also experienced harassment and rape. After these incidents, it was decided that the military training was not going to be co-ed basic training. By doing this the pentagon announced in 2013 that they
“We are all equal; it is not birth but virtue alone that makes the difference.” This insightful quote from the famous French philosopher and historian “Voltaire” seems to accurately represent the beliefs of the factions of American citizens pushing to allow women to fight in combat positions within the US Armed Forces. Though the topic has just recently been boosted into the media and congressional politics, it has been long debated. A rather current editorial from USA Today titled: “Open Combat Positions to Women” outlines the recent developments in the status of a much disputed and controversial issue facing the nation today. Though somewhat less in-depth than some opposing opinions, the
Women have fought alongside men in the United States Military in every major battle since the American Revolution. The roles of women in the military have evolved over time to allow the incorporation of women in expanding military career fields. Women have proven themselves to be an asset to the military despite some of society believing women would weaken America’s military effectiveness. Today more than 200,000 women are active-duty military, this is about 14.5% of all military. Currently, women are involved in all branches of the Armed Forces; there are around 74,000 women in the Army, 62,000 in the Air Force, 53,000 in the Navy, and 14,000 in the Marine Corps (By the numbers: Women in the U.S. Military). Military women continue to
Since 1901, women have served in some form of the military, however, dating back to the American Revolution women have had an unofficial role. Women have had and will continue to have an important role in the military, the question is whether women should be allowed to occupy specific combat positions. Traditionally women have not been allowed in combat occupations, but recently these restrictions have been somewhat lifted, making certain occupations available to women. Despite the lift complications arise from women being in combat vocations and it’s not just because of the physical differences, there is also the increased risk of sexual assault. Due to the detrimental impact on the military, soldiers, and society, women should not
No matter your race, gender, or any other of your characteristics of yourself should not matter when someone is making a decision about you. So women should be treated just as men are when in the military. Decisions should be based off of facts and data about them, not their gender. Men and women have walked side by side ever since they have been on planet Earth, so why are men seen as superior or held at a higher standard? Some reasons why we have to enforce gender equality in the military are the following sentences. Women are a part of the military. Serving in the military is not about gender, it is if you meet all the standards. And they tension between men and women doesn’t rise.
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.
Women have been participating in the United States military since the Revolutionary War, where they were nurses, maids, cooks and even spies. They played vital roles in order to keep those fighting on the front lines healthier, and even a more important role in keeping commanding officers informed with private information stolen from the other side. Although the Revolutionary War took play in 1776, the first law to be passed that permanently stated that women have an official place in the military was in 1948, almost one hundred and seventy-two years later. Since that time there has been a lack of true growth when it comes to integration of females in the military. In 1994, a law was passed that tried to prohibit women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level. Women are excluded from more then 25% of active combat roles within the military and only in 2013 was the ban lifted which was the final barrier to allowing women into all active roles. This has been a huge step in the direction for women being considered as being equal but there are still challenges that women face within the military. Ranging from sexual assault, discrimination, bullying, and other tactics, it is clear that for many, the military is still a “boys club.”
Ninety percent of all military occupations in the military include all genders, but the top ten percent of roles are excluded to women. Women have already felt the misogyny with unequal pay and unfair treatment by men, now women have to face the discrimination for fighting for our country. Women should be able to serve in the front lines because it makes the military stronger as a whole with more diversity, women in other countries fight on the front lines and women have made significant contributions in the military so far.