Carter Barrow
Mr. Hasty
English III H
2 November 2015
The Military: Women’s Rights to Fight Alongside Men
Michele Hickford, a communications strategist and award-winning advertising copywriter, says that two women have just made history by becoming the first women to complete Army Ranger School, one of the U.S. military’s premier courses to develop elite fighters and leaders; they will be graduating from the school on Friday, October 23. Eden, a ninety-five pound five foot tall female Marine Iraq war veteran, says that “pipsqueaks” like her should not be in combat if they can not do everything the average male soldier can do (Hickford). There are many women who are qualified enough to serve alongside men, but if they do not have the qualifications
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Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, passed one of the military’s most grueling training courses, Army Ranger School. According to Anna Mulrine Staff, the author of the article “As first two women pass Ranger school, Army faces big questions,” women have already been fulfilling the tasks necessary to serve alongside men on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now that two women have passed Army Ranger School it offers further evidence that women are ready for a combat role alongside men (1st Discus Source). There have always been women with the qualifications to serve alongside men in combat roles such as fighting alongside them on the front lines, but some people refuse to accept that women can be just as effective in these combat roles as men. This may be the first time in history that women have past one of the most grueling training courses in the United States military, but it does not mean that women have not always had the capability to fight on the front lines in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, just like …show more content…
In the article “Women in Combat: Education, Leadership Keys To Success” Jacqueline Hames talks about the different concerns there are for women joining the military. Hames discusses how different groups are actively trying to decrease the health concerns that arise for women that join the military. No matter what branch of the military women choose to join there will be health concerns that arise, so women should not be banned from some roles in the military just because of health concerns, and allowed in others. According to Hames, direct combat roles for women raise certain physical and psychological health concerns, but that the Department of Defense and the Army are actively researching on how to find a way to still integrate women into these positions. Also, Hames says that the Women’s Health Task Force is focused on the gender-specific health needs of women who serve in the military, helping to make sure that the military meets all the health needs of women and men equally. Women should not be banned from certain roles in the military just because of some health concerns that may arise, they should have the right to choose if they would like to serve in the military or not, just as men
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
Uniting both male and female service members despite the different tasks each one faces, is one of the goals Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of Ashley’s War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield, faces to elaborate. The preface opens up by listing the set of events Second Lieutenant Ashley White completed before going out on a mission that would not only change her life but many female personnel serving for the United States Armed Forces as well. Other then uniting military personnel, another major goal or theme is educating the reader of affairs usually not displayed on the news. From my perspective, Lemmon had taught me something that I probably wouldn’t have found out, if it weren’t for this book. I have always been under the impression that women can’t serve on the frontline, but this is not until the introduction of Cultural Support Teams, or better known as CST’s. Using both a pathos and logos approach the author introduces some of the first females to make a change in combat history. In the end the author makes a clear statement to the public and male service members that women are competent both mentally and physically to serve on a Special Operations Mission.
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.
It is my opinion that the ability and training of women in the military should be the base of the decision of where and how women serve in the military; rather than gender aspects. In the recent years, the subject of human rights has been the elimination of many media and public discussions. The key topic in the discussions is equality treatment and handling between the two genders. Several policies within the constitution define the expectations of law on each gender (Field & John 7). The societal setting and upbringing also has its impacts on the behavior of each gender and the perception that the genders have for each other. The American culture takes pride in the practices of democracy and justice for every person; however, this may not apply to all people.
The big worry stems from an idea about the degeneration of the combat community structure. So, with that in mind, let 's suppose that women are granted full entry and that the requirements for men and women are exactly the same. Let’s also suppose nobody tampers with the vetting process, meaning no overseeing, “Yes Men generals,” pushing women through, as well as no misogynistic gate-keeper putting an extra sandbag in a girls’ rucksack prior to some training
In the NewYorkTimes.com website, the section named “Room for Debate”. John Rodriguez an Army officer argues the role and opportunity women have in the military. He believes that women have the capacity to be in all military organizations. He references two women Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver that trained with him in Ranger School, a very difficult course to accomplish, and commends them for taking a difficult path. Moreover he argues that the Ranger School is a school that will build leaders and help people develop leadership qualities. He also states that the Ranger School should be open to all the soldiers, and that overall it will help the Army. The author also mentions the Navy SEALs which he favors because, gender does not effect the
Yet, many argue that the distinction between combat and non-combat becomes blurred in the context of women warfare (Ladin; Holm, Hoar). In actuality, many women are assigned to jobs that will expose them to enemy attack, and this has been openly acknowledged by the top Pentagon officials. The United States Army has also recognized that women would be deployed in combat zones as an inevitable consequence of their assignments. This was
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
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
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.”
After years of discussion and debate it appears that soon women will be sent into combat operations in the United States military. This is the way it should be because women are ready and competent to be put into combat roles in the U.S. military. Indeed, slowly but surely, the Defense Department and Congress have been inching towards a decision that will formalize the policy; in fact the National Defense Authorization Act, put before Congress in May, 2012 by U.S. Senators John McCain and Carl Levin will in effect order the military "…to come up with a plan to send women into battle" (McAuliff, 2012). Hopes are high that this will be approved by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Throughout our nation’s history, women have played an important role in the military. It has not been until recently however, that women have been able to fully
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
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.