How Gender Limits A Person 's Role As A Superior Officer

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

Women have been fighting alongside men on battlefields for centuries upon centuries, giving their greatest fight to lead their team to victory. Although women are given this opportunity, direct ground combat amongst women remains against the law till this very day, allowing a gender to define what a female can, or cannot do. The human race continues to evolve every day, yet a simple discriminatory law that decides what a woman’s capabilities are without being aware of just how empowering that specific woman is is the same as it first was. Despite the idea that women do not meet certain requirements in order to take place in combat units, women continue to provide an endless amount of support to men on battlefields, bringing a completely

Over the past few years, there has been huge discussions when the topic of equality for women who have joined the military is being brought up. Being that gender equality is a big thing in the military now, I decided to chose this topic and discuss how I feel about it. According to the United States constitution, all men are created equal and this does not exclude women. One of the main things I learned is that equality for women in the military is a major issue. There should be no gender inequality in the United States military period. Most jobs are now open to women that were once allowed for only a man to do but when it comes to something such as the military, it should have always been that way No one should be told they can’t do something when it requires fighting for your country. Even back when men were drafted in the military, women should have been able to get drafted as well. You would think the military would take any and everybody that is willing to fight for his or her country simply because it would make our job easier as a whole. Frequently, women are stereotyped as feeble and incapable of doing certain things. Nevertheless, this should not be applied in any kind of career, particularly in the military.

The inequality of the military has men doing the double of what women do because they are seen as being mentally and physically stronger. This relates to the requirements of the military that they have in place which indeed need to be changed for it to be deemed as an equal service. This identifies

The ability for one to determine the roles of women in the military became skewed as warfare

She cites data that she has researched such as how “Women now make up almost 15 percent of the American Military” (Collins 3) and “More than 130 women have died and more than 800 have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan” (Collins 3).These numbers allow the audience to see the seriousness of the situation that is being argued for: the fact that women in the military should get more respect.

Women in the military and law enforcement often face a separate level of judgment that is rarely mentioned. Now with my own personal experiences working with the United States Coast Guard and my Local Police Department for about 5 years and counting I have seen the reality that so many people try to shy away from. With more and more women exerting “pride” in their gender and self expression, the more they show the more they’re judged. One author, Julia Serano

As his clammy hands brushed her inner thigh a cold breeze instantly raised the hairs on her sweaty neck. As she thought to herself, “is this begging? is there more to come? is it just him?” Her mind racing like she had just come out of combat. She kicked and fought until she had nothing left to fight for. Complete fear took over her body. Not only did this man take her trust but he was her commanding officer of E division Most people would say, “She has a career surrounded by testosterone filled alpha males what does she expect?” Men's carnal desires alter the lives of many women with in the military system. They exploit women in the hopes of gaining power and control as well to instil fear in those women, knowing that the current system is more supportive of

At the same time, for a male officer being defended by a woman officer is regarded as an affront disrespect to his manhood. Two other less frequently articulated concerns also support men's resistance to women: the belief that women are "mentally weaker", and, therefore, unreliable in the face of danger, and the view that women are unable to command public respect as officers. (Martin 1990)

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

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.”

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.

“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

Margaret Corbin is only one of many women who astounded society and would change the face of the military forever. During the times before women were allowed to enlist as soldiers, many women took the issue into their own hands, disguising themselves as men and enlisting in the military under false pretenses. Deborah Sampson was one of the women who participated in this trend. Sampson was enlisted in General Washington’s army and proved to be quite competent and an asset to her fellow soldiers. Deborah Sampson’s true identity was discovered shortly after she was wounded in battle. Despite her actions being illegal, Sampson received an honorable discharge as well as military pension for her duties (Time Line: Women in the U.S. Military).