Military Double Standards Essay

While interviewing ten people, both civilian and members of our armed forces of varied sexes, all but one had a common concern with women in combat. They do not believe they should be integrated if they are unable to meet the exact same standards as the men who hold those positions currently. Staff Sergeant Pedro Campoverde (11B infantry), ex Drill Sergeant stated “women should have different standards. They are built differently from us males.” He has recalled many instances where male soldiers were not able to complete certain tasks and would have to get assistance from other soldiers.

Secretary Mr. Panetta’s decision to repeal the DOD policy preventing women from serving in direct ground combat units opened Pandora’s Box on the debate of whether or not women should be allowed to serve in specialties previously opened to males only. The narrative regarding the women serving in direct ground combat arms specialties was immediately high jacked by those sympathetic to women who have served in combat on a “nonlinear” battlefield, where there were no distinguishable front and rear lines. Additionally, many have rallied behind those women who have been able to demonstrate superior physical abilities, such as the two women soldiers that recently completed Ranger School. I would submit that neither accomplishment demonstrates that these women or women in general are the “best-qualified and most capable” to serve in direct ground combat arms specialties. This issue is not about what women should be allowed to do, it’s really about what are they capable of doing. The bias is not institutional, the bias is physiological.

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

Throughout the history of mankind there has always been a debate regarding the equality between men and women. A more specific detail in this argument is the conflict of women should be on the front line of battlefield. This topic is significant congress is currently passing legislation on whether women can serve on the front lines of combat. It is also significant because the army rangers has opened its camp to women for the first time in early 2015. This essay will argue the point that women should not be allowed on the front line of combat but allowed in the military. In order to argue this point this essay will demonstrate how the role of women changed in combat over the past 100 years. It will also show what the differences are between

Owens’s claims over the topic of women in combat happen to be that he is against the idea of placing “American women in combat or in support positions associated with direct ground combat” in the military. He states that there physical differences between the sexes, men tend to treat women differently, and that the presence of women lead to double standards. Therefore, with this reasoning that Owens claims allows the readers to have a better understanding of his perspective on women in

The article addresses the immediate concerns and resolutions concerning military women in combat. David Lerman provided overwhelming evidence that allows the reader to imagine a world with women in a combat role. He also states the pros and cons for women in combat roles. Although it is clear from Mr. Lerman’s tone that he supports women in combat, this article did not overwhelm the reader with positive regards. It fairly suggests important processes that will need to be in place before this implementation can be successful.

A woman in combat was a trending topic for the armed forces for years. The year 2016 is when officially women have been granted the right to join the armed forces in a combat field of the job. Others, particularly in the military, are against this act because of various reasons concerning the safety of military troops in an anarchy form of living. A battlefield is known to be the most stressful and dangerous environment, and it is vital for the armed forces to conduct safety and simpleness to remove any complicated areas that might make the job more difficult. Efficiency, communication, and most importantly trust and loyalty are essential to perform in such a violent atmosphere.

Women such as 1st Lt. Shaye Haver and Cpt. Kristen Griest, whom had completed the notoriously challenging Army Ranger program, are perfect examples of women that counter old stereotypes that women are weak and have no place serving in the military. While it may be true that, considering average physiology, women may have somewhat less bone mass and a lower capacity to develop muscle mass, the military does not require women to have a male bodybuilder’s muscle mass to gain entry or even excel. Beyond this, women have comparable fundamental potential for a military role. For all practical purposes, women have a comparable potential to train and succeed in the military, while gender roles, stereotypes, and treatment appear to have comparable or

While some laws have been created to protect women from various social vices, evil done to women in both military and other professional fields is on the rise. Women in the military are sexually assaulted, and they cannot also raise a legal complaint about fear of losing their jobs and remuneration benefits. Besides, women in the army have been stereotyped as not suitable to carry out the military duties such as killing, and instead are regarded as objects of pleasure at the workplace. This has seen many women occupy low ranks in the army, compare to their male counterparts. It is also of concern that women who persist and prove their capability to perform the same tasks as their male counterparts are mistaken to be lesbian.

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.”

An individual’s reputation goes a long way in terms of assuming whether a victim “wanted it” or not. There is a blatant double standard surrounding men and women regarding sex. Men are excepted to be masculine and are often celebrated for the number of women they manage to sleep with. More often than not the number of girls, referred to as “kills,” are met with approval from friends. “Traditional gender role ideologies are the perception of how men and women are supposed to think and behave in society and within the context of heterosexual relationships” (Santana, M., Raj, A., Decker, M., Marche, A., & Silverman, J., 2006, pp. 575-585).

The ethical problem is roots in the culture, so solve this problem is inevitable. While the alcohol consumption is part of our social life, the soldiers cannot avoid it. First recommendation is the maintaining the chain of command. The commander should assign the chain of command if alcohol related event occurs in order to maintain the continuous leadership in the unit. He or she should give the temporary authority to the next leader in the chain while the alcohol’s effect disappears from the commander’s body. This measurement could prevent lot of previously mentioned negative effect, such as decision-making and using authority while intoxicated or mind- altering state. The next recommendation is important in the lead by example perspective.

In Women in the Military, Janette Mance explores the debates and problems faced by the increasing number of women involved in the military. After examining issues such as pregnancy, sexual harassment, and rape, Mance concludes that as a society we must continue to strive for gender equality.

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