Women in Combat
Paige Hauser
ENG 152-013
Argumentative Research Paper
3/21/13
Women in Combat
As quoted by a philosopher C. Joybell, “The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her, but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.” Women have served in the military since the Armed Services Integration Act became in effect in 1948 (MacKenzie). The ban on women in combat was lifted on January 24, 2013. Military officials have been noticing more and more women receiving Purple Hearts (for being wounded in combat), and Combat Action Badges (for being in action on the ground, air, and sea). Women are dealing with hostile enemies who have no regards for them. Women may not be in an MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), such as infantry, but they are in positions that include driving tanks and being medics. They are on the front lines of the battlefield no matter how a person views it. Women are be allowed to serve in active combat because they have proven themselves to be combat ready and deserve to have equality among their brothers in arms.
To begin, rights for women in the military began taking shape in 2011 when the Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommended that the Department of Defense remove all combat restrictions on women. A level playing field had to be made. Women make up about 14% of the military and can only be in 93% of MO’s that the military offers. However, in 2012 things began to take shape. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Gender Equality in Combat Act, which seeks the termination of the ground combat exclusion policy (MacKenzie). Having this introduced allowed women to be included in that remaining 7%, and provided them with equal rights.
Women deserve the same rights as men which entitles them to be able to serve in active combat. Stated by Holly Yeager, a writer for Wilson Quarterly, “New
ENG 152-013
Argumentative Research Paper
3/21/13
Women in Combat
As quoted by a philosopher C. Joybell, “The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships in life have had on her, but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes.” Women have served in the military since the Armed Services Integration Act became in effect in 1948 (MacKenzie). The ban on women in combat was lifted on January 24, 2013. Military officials have been noticing more and more women receiving Purple Hearts (for being wounded in combat), and Combat Action Badges (for being in action on the ground, air, and sea). Women are dealing with hostile enemies who have no regards for them. Women may not be in an MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), such as infantry, but they are in positions that include driving tanks and being medics. They are on the front lines of the battlefield no matter how a person views it. Women are be allowed to serve in active combat because they have proven themselves to be combat ready and deserve to have equality among their brothers in arms.
To begin, rights for women in the military began taking shape in 2011 when the Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommended that the Department of Defense remove all combat restrictions on women. A level playing field had to be made. Women make up about 14% of the military and can only be in 93% of MO’s that the military offers. However, in 2012 things began to take shape. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Gender Equality in Combat Act, which seeks the termination of the ground combat exclusion policy (MacKenzie). Having this introduced allowed women to be included in that remaining 7%, and provided them with equal rights.
Women deserve the same rights as men which entitles them to be able to serve in active combat. Stated by Holly Yeager, a writer for Wilson Quarterly, “New
Cited: Attorney Scott Tips, JD. News With the Views. 24 April 2012. 1 March 2013. Dreazen, Yochi J. "Women fighting the nation 's wars." National Journal (2011). Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013 MacKenzie, Megan H. "Let women fight: ending the U.S. military 's female combat ban." Foreign Affairs 91.6 (2012): 32+. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013. News, FOX. “Women Should Be Allowed In Combat Units, Report Says.” 2011 Alision Harding, CNN. "Report: Women Should Be Allowed to Serve in Combat." 2011. Werrell, Kenneth P. "Should Women be Permitted in Combat?-Yes." Air University Review (2009). Yeager, Holly. "The Role of Women in the Armed Forces Should Be Expanded." Armed Forces. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Soldiering Ahead." Wilson Quarterly 31 (Summer 2007): 54-62. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Feb. 2013.