...27-03-2016 Women in Military Combat: Should they be Allowed to Serve or Not? The question of whether women should be allowed to serve in military combat has always been a contentious issue with some of the people claiming that women should be allowed to serve in military combat positions while others insisting that military combat positions are meant for men. This paper is going to give an in-depth analysis of the reasons why people claim women should be allowed to serve in military combat positions or not and come up with a conclusion on the matter. 1. Why Women should be Allowed to Serve in Military Combat Positions The first reason why women should be allowed to serve in combat positions is to promote gender equality. The main reason is, the military gives a clear picture of how the society is and having gender equality improves the military’s public image. Although women have been allowed to support in military operations since 1901, women are still excluded from some combat positions and promoting gender equality would improve the military’s public reputation by promoting gender equality. A perfect example is the ancient structure of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army which allowed women to serve in combat positions as well and in leadership roles as generals (Xiaolin, 1993). Second, women should be allowed to serve in military combat positions due to their physical ability. Although most women do not have the physical ability that men serving in military combat positions...
Words: 1148 - Pages: 5
...Can Women Serve In Combat? The Military Leadership Diversity Commission is recommending that the Pentagon do away with a policy that bans women from serving in combat units, breathing new life into a debate that really should never have developed in the first place. Let’s take a look at the reasons for the current ban, and the reasons why some may be trying to lift the ban that keeps women from serving in direct combat roles. First, Let Me Be Clear Let me be clear in efforts to head off any “you hate women” ignorance. This article is not about whether women should be allowed to serve in the military in general. This is specifically about why I personally believe women (female or trans-gendered) should not be allowed to, forced into, pressured, or even given the option to serve in direct combat roles such as Infantry, Sniper, Special Forces, Recon, Ranger, SEAL, Combat Diver, or Delta units. In my opinion, this is a common sense issue… but to no surprise, the “well-educated” people that have done studies and compiled reports commissioned by the government seem to be incapable of utilizing a commodity such as common sense. And trust me, I have seen many women, especially in the Marine Corps, that were highly capable, willing and able to serve in infantry and combat-related roles. There’s more to it than that. Reasons Why Women Should Not Serve In Direct Combat Roles Strength, equality, logistics, safety and emotions are a few main areas that I would like to discuss...
Words: 2916 - Pages: 12
...resources needed to complete this project, and an annotated bibliography that will be used as the core sources for the literature review I will write for the final paper. Overview and Purpose of the Research Project The role of women in combat has changed drastically over the years. Their inclusion in the military has increased followed by their involvement. However, the women are still limited in terms of what roles they are allowed to take. The general stigma against women depicts them as homemakers and their place in combat cannot exceed certain levels such as allowing them in the front line. There are other factors that have been linked to their limitation including their capacity to handle emotions, their need for extended leave when they get pregnant and their overall performance as compared to the men. People are constantly advocating for equal rights in men and women. In a bid to achieve that, women should be encouraged to uptake military positions while the policy makers are urged to set room for this. This research project will dwell on the inclusion of women in the military and their capacity to take up more definitive roles in combat. The position of this project is that women, whose gender roles have changed over the years, should be more involved in combat with an emphasis on more definite tasks that contribute to the...
Words: 2733 - Pages: 11
...allow women in combat is not a new issue. Prior to the 1990’s, women were not even allowed to fly combat missions or allowed onto combat ships. In the United States military the term combat is defined as an armed conflict. The definition of combat is important to know because the argument is that women should not be allowed to serve in combat. Women not being allowed to serve in combat is a much different argument then the argument that women should not be allowed in the military. Women perform many important jobs in the United States armed forces and very few people are against women serving in the military. The United States armed forces consist of five branches, the Airforce, Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Currently women are allowed to serve in all five branches and are being integrated into the combat mission of all five branches. In December of 2010...
Words: 2003 - Pages: 9
...Arguments Serving in the military comes with many duties and obligations. Joining the military is not about carrying a weapon, it’s about everyone doing their job to the best of their trained ability. In the debate video: “Resolved: Women in the Military Should be excluded from combat”, two groups argue about whether women should be in combat, or should not. Each individual in their respective groups presented reasons and evidence on why they think their argument is valid. Considering all the challenges men have faced in the military over the years, it is understandable why some people vouch for women not to fight. In the debate video, the side that is for the resolution argues that woman should not be in the military...
Words: 1278 - Pages: 6
...101 Professor Murray Women in the Military: Warriors or a Liability? Since the dawn of time women have proved themselves in one way or another to be just as capable as men, so if a woman so chooses to risk her life fighting and engaging in hand to hand combat in a war to defend her country why shouldn’t she be allowed to? Women have dutifully served alongside and even in front of men in a line of combat throughout history which extends thousands of years into the past in many cultures and countries around the world. The warrior woman dates back to prehistoric times when individuals mostly fended for themselves to survive. During the Roman incursion into what is today England, there was Boadicea, the British warrior queen who led her people to battle against the Roman invaders. There was also Jinga, the majestic and murderous black queen who fought the Portuguese in seventeenth-century Angola. Modern western culture includes a famous and more popular example, Joan of Arc, who in 1429, at age 17, successfully led French troops into battle against the English. Even without the specific examples of these heroines, consider how, in our more recent history, hundreds of women have disguised themselves as men to fight in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. These acts are not just those of bravery, but true patriotism and those are the type of individuals who are needed in the line of duty to defend this great nation. A women’s restriction in combat is often viewed as a form of...
Words: 1730 - Pages: 7
...country goes to war it depends on its military to be up for any challenge war has to offer. 50 years ago the thought of a woman joining the ranks were laughable; today it is a reality. Women have proved that they can doubtfully be called the weaker gender, and recently have been able to serve in combat roles. Combat roles are the most dangerous and physically demanding roles the United States military has to offer. When a soldier signs up for this role they understand that they will be put on the frontline and in the line of fire from the enemy. Nature has made women physically weaker and less durable than men. A highly trained woman cannot match a man in physical strength. I served proudly alongside women for ten years in the military, but I strongly believe that they should not be able to serve in combat roles in the United States. Having them serve in such roles can have negative effects on them and the men that they serve with; lower standards, health issues, and possible harassment situations. When women were allowed into the military many of the army standards were either lowered or vanish completely. According to head officials at West Point Academy, Cadets no longer run in boots due to the fact women were suffering from a high rate of injury (Knight, 1991). Physical training test scores were adjusted because women could not meet the basic physical requirements to stay into the military. Due to the decrease in standards today’s soldiers have become lazy and overweight. “According...
Words: 1081 - Pages: 5
...there already women going to combat in Iraq and Afghanistan?” Well, the answer to that question was one of the driving forces behind wanting to write a paper on the subject. The short answer is “Yes”. The long answer is no, there have been no women who have gone to combat in a direct Combat Military Occupational Specialty in the history of the American Soldier. “Well how can the answer be both yes and no at the same time”? The answer comes in the forms of rules and regulations that once prohibited women from even training to take on the jobs that are considered the Combat Arms of the military. Sometimes non-military members don’t have the luxury of seeing how the military operates from the inside. The military is like a small microcosm of the world and the citizens that they protect. There is a specific job for every task, no matter how menial or prominent, that must be trained for before being allowed to officially have it as a job title. This is especially true when it comes to Combat Arms; these are jobs that will intentionally put the Soldier in the direct line of fire. The training is intense and grueling and requires a lot of very physical strength and stamina to complete the courses to become members of their ranks. Women are currently allowed to serve in Combat support roles, but the fight has been for women to be able to serve in combat positions such as Infantry, Field Artillery and Engineers. Women and men have served along side one another in combat in every war...
Words: 2095 - Pages: 9
...Women in Combat For the past two hundred and forty-one years of the United States military’s existence, women have not been allowed to serve in combat roles. Recently however the argument to abolish this practice, and to fully integrate women into our fighting forces has gained some traction, with the Secretary of Defense actually setting a timeline for lifting this ban. This is yet another welcome step forward for our country. If done correctly this move will strengthen our nation, but if performed poorly or for the wrong reasons, could further damage an already tenuous relationship between male and female soldiers. Fully integrating women into frontline combat positions would create a more diverse talent pool for the armed forces to pull form. Diversity has always been a strength for the U.S. military, allowing them to quickly adapt to situations by pulling ideas from cultures and experience not available to its adversaries. The potential problem with this integration stems from the fact that Americans tend to be impatient, demanding instant change. Instead of lifting the ban and allowing the number of women in combat positions to grow naturally overtime the military will most likely bow to political pressure and adjust the standards to allow for the quick entrance of women into these positions until the desired quota is met. The military already has different standards for men and women, take the Army Physical Fitness test; for a male and female soldier to get the same...
Words: 642 - Pages: 3
...WOMEN IN COMBAT AN INDISPENSIBLE ARMY 21 COMPONENT OR A SIMPLE CASE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY? Your mission remains fixed, determined, inviolable – it is to win our wars. Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital dedication. All other public purposes … will find others for their accomplishment; but you are the ones who are trained to fight; yours is the profession to arms. General Douglas A. MacArthur to the West Point Graduating Class of 1962 INTRODUCTION Like the United States military, the infusion of women into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) was announced with great fanfare and the proclamation of the politically-correct notion that “women have as much a role to play in the Nation’s defence as the men”. Thankfully, unlike the US military, the inclusion of women into SAF did not result in controversies and scandals that the US military faced in recent years as exemplified in the Tailhook[1] and Aberdeen[2] scandals. Amidst continued declining birth rates and greater economic opportunities, the participation of women in the SAF has been generally accepted as an inexorable development within the organisation without much ado, trusting that the authorities have performed the necessary analysis. Is this naturally the case? Are there larger issues that we need to grapple with, given our unique circumstances, noting that up till today, the US military is still debating on the wisdom of opening up military career opportunities...
Words: 5592 - Pages: 23
...English 043 Persuasive December 11, 2010 Women in Combat Should women be allowed in combat? Can women perform and function as effectively as men in combat? Some would agree and some conservative people would usually argue that they shouldn't. Many would debate the physical capabilities and mental differences of the two sexes, or even the effect of the presence of the opposite sex on the battlefield. But we should also be reminded, women have been serving in the armies and for centuries have fought many successful battles. Policies that prohibit women to join the combat must be abolished. Capable women should be allowed in combat, and not be denied the ability to function in the army on an equal basis. Buried in the history of books, women have played many roles in combat for many centuries. In 600 BC, there is a legend about fearsome female warriors from ancient Greece. These stories speak of women who were trained in the art of war, how to use weapons, and how to cope with physical hardships. The stories tell us that they conquered men on the field of battle. These women are called the Amazons. Who would forget the story of Joan of Arc, who in 1429 successfully led French Troops into battle against the English. During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, hundreds of women disguised themselves as men to fight. These are just a few examples of what a woman can be, they have proved themselves able to handle difficult situation well when they are thrown into one...
Words: 660 - Pages: 3
...Women in the Military Life is not easy, nor has it ever been for a woman. No one has a harder and more stressful life than a woman. A woman’s life is more difficult than a man’s because she must endure child birth, maintain personnel appearance, and overcome discrimination; Women in the United States have fought for the right to be included in many facets of society. From the beginning of time, women only had certain roles to play. A woman’s job was limited to homemaker, wife and mother. Women have played a tremendous role in the armed forces from the past to the present. In World War II thousands of women served in the military in traditional roles as a nurse or held an office job. Women should be allowed to fight for their country. The United States Army is the only branch that has recognized women in combat zones. They have yet to serve on the front line, but they are able to participate in convey. When it comes to combat assignments and the needs of the military, men take precedence. What is the point of taking women to the combat zone, if we are not able to go to war? When the military trains for combat, there is no gender bias training. The United States spends a lot of money on combat training for women and men. It is a waste of time and money not to send a woman to war. War is color blind. Behind every uniform is a Sailor, Solider, or Marine. When a woman walks into her command, she is greeted by her rank not her gender. Why shouldn’t a women serve for her country...
Words: 298 - Pages: 2
...head: WOMEN IN THE MILITARY Women in the Military: Controversy of Direct Combat Strayer University Women in the Military: Controversy of Direct Combat Section I: Introduction Women have been in the military, or associated with combat for decades. “The most famous example of the ability of a woman to not only be involved in combat but to lead forces is that of Joan of Arc's legendary battles leading the French army when she was just a teenager.”(Gerber 1) Women have been involved in espionage and even posed as male soldiers during the Civil War. Conflicts such as, WWI, WWII, Panama, and as recent as our current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan women have served with distinction in many ways. In our most recent conflict, over 100 military women have given the ultimate sacrifice. Today with changes in our society and the global environment in which we live two controversial arguments arise concerning women in combat. Basically the debate whether or not women should be allowed to participate in direct combat or not. As our society and cultural beliefs change so does what we except as social norms. Both sides of this argument bring many reasons for and against allowing women to participate in direct combat. Taking into account both views of this controversy it will show, that not only a social change has occurred, but the dynamics of the battlefield has in fact already placed female service members into direct combat. Section II: Opposition to Direct Combat Roles for...
Words: 2687 - Pages: 11
...on the roles of women in the U.S. military. Although there has been an increase of opportunities for women to serve in combat roles, they are still discriminated against in every branch of the military. However, in the last few years with ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the success women have been having in combat, policies are being debated. Utilitarian The U.S. military insists that women not participate in combat roles for a number of reasons. The most common reasons brought up are reasons that affect the majority of soldiers, which happen to be men. However, all of these reasons have been proven to be inaccurate or just plain not true. In light of these findings it remains that women are restricted from certain combat duties. One of the more common reasons stated is that women are not strong enough to participate in battle and that they would hinder overall operations due to their physical weakness. However, it has been proven that with proper training, women can become just as strong as men their same size. (USARIEM) Another reason commonly brought up is that women can’t handle the stress of battle and that they have too much mental anguish. Col. Carl Castro, director of Military Operational Research Program at the Dept. of Defense, has proved this incorrect. He states, ‘‘when I look at the data, I see nothing to counter that point.'' (NY Times) The last Utilitarian argument that I will discuss is the argument of having women serving...
Words: 758 - Pages: 4
...At a time when women were not expected to serve in the Air Force, Margaret Phelan Taylor voluntarily signed up to serve her nation in World War II (Stamberg). While men were paid to fight overseas, Taylor paid the then costly $500 to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and even stood on her tiptoes to pass the height requirement (Stamberg). Following her example, women today should offer a small bit of themselves as Taylor did, only this time in the form of selective service. All men who have turned eighteen must register for the draft within thirty day whereas women have the option to voluntarily enroll. All eligible females should be required to register in the Selected Services because women are enlisted in all areas of the military,...
Words: 1719 - Pages: 7
