Women in the Military
Fog covered forests, heat blasted deserts, and mortar destroyed landscapes. These are just a few of the scenarios encountered on the modern day battlefield. The present day warrior needs to be decisive, emotionally stable, physically immovable and a natural born killer. Do women fit any of these descriptions? Should a woman be permitted to enter into combat situations? Some argue that it is a woman 's right to be fighting along side other men. Others agree that by not letting women in ground troops her rights are being taken away. A woman can be anything that she wants but when she tries to prove that she is just as good as a man in combat she could be putting herself in very dangerous situations that could effect her and her unit. Before World War I, women assisted the military during wartime mainly as nurses and helpers. Some women, however, did become involved in battles. Molly Pitcher, a Revolutionary War water carrier, single-handedly kept cannon in action after an artillery crew had been disabled. During the
Revolutionary and the Civil War, a few women disguised themselves as men and took part in hand-to-hand combat. The first enlisted women served in World War I as telephone and radio operators, translators, and clerks. But it was not until World War II that women became part of the regular military. There are many issue women face in the military. For instance, obtaining combat positions, discrimination, and sexual harassment harassment, According to womensmemorial.org, “1.8 million women have served in the U.S. armed forces”. Also, “Women make up 14% of the active duty military force”. Twenty five years ago only 1.8% was women. One of the most important factors that show how women are not as effective as men in combat situations is the obvious fact that they perform on different physical levels. Other important points are the fact that women are much more susceptible to injury than men. These factors could weigh heavily for the competence and
Revolutionary and the Civil War, a few women disguised themselves as men and took part in hand-to-hand combat. The first enlisted women served in World War I as telephone and radio operators, translators, and clerks. But it was not until World War II that women became part of the regular military. There are many issue women face in the military. For instance, obtaining combat positions, discrimination, and sexual harassment harassment, According to womensmemorial.org, “1.8 million women have served in the U.S. armed forces”. Also, “Women make up 14% of the active duty military force”. Twenty five years ago only 1.8% was women. One of the most important factors that show how women are not as effective as men in combat situations is the obvious fact that they perform on different physical levels. Other important points are the fact that women are much more susceptible to injury than men. These factors could weigh heavily for the competence and
Cited: Women In the military service for America Memorial Foundation Inc http://www.womensmemorial.org/PDFs/StatsonWIM.pdf Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/17/women-in-combat-gi-jane-goes-to-iraq-and-afghanistan/