Military Double Standards

In the feature article “All Guts, No Glory”, I agree with the author Molly M. Ginty, that women participating in combat. If I was in the military some of the things that might affect me would be probably because of my gender. First, women would not be put into battle because people think women cannot handle the work or bloodshed. They think women are better off bring a nurse for helping men in battle if they get injured. Second, they think women in combat would be a distraction. Also, that if women were put into battle they would have some interaction with the men or would be fighting. Which I think is untrue; women would not be a distraction. Even men argue with each other at times. Last, it should not matter men or women that in combat. They

I think women should be added to the draft. Women have been proven to be just as capable as men in the military, equal rights include equal responsibility, and by having the most talented people in our military regardless of gender we can fight and win wars in the most intelligent and efficient way. Adding women to the draft is a great way to support and protect the American dream.

The United States military is one of the most important and largest job sources within America, with supplying far over a million jobs to people across the country, this including both men and women. These jobs are given to people who chose the path to gain them; however, this does not highlight the military draft and the people chosen by it. Currently only men above the age of eighteen and below the age of forty, are chosen by a mailed notice, and drafted into the military, if an imminent emergency were to present itself; however, it would be beneficial to the country if women were also accepted into the draft. There are of course both pros and cons to women joining the draft, as there are to any controversial topic. The perks of this acceptance would be career advancement, military readiness, and effectiveness; unfortunately, with helpful pros comes the unwanted negatives. Physical ability, tradition, and overall efficiency are just three to list, there obviously are more; however, these would prove to be the most prominent. All in all, women should be accepted into the military draft, because not only would they benefit the country in political and global ways, but the acceptance would also help those that live within this nation.

Twenty-two, is the number found from statistics that shows the number of military veteran suicide each day (Philipps, 2015) and weather that is a small or great amount, the amount greatly surpasses the amount of teachers, police officers, or firemen suicide each day. With such a high suicide rate, the amount of outlets and solutions available for military veterans is rather miniscule in comparison and the slightest amount of appraisal are “Thank you for your service” which are rather hollow and shrouded with cluelessness (Lister, 2015).This high number of suicide is not only a result from veterans dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder, but it also stems from mood disorders, substance abuse,

“It was only after that evening that I really started to question whether or not the Canadian Forces, now called the Canadian Armed Forces, had evolved into a welcoming environment for women over the last two decades” (Perron, 309). In the memoir Outstanding in the Field, Sandra Perron fights to be Canada’s first female infantry officer. She battles against her allies, trying to be a woman in a ‘mans world’. The absence of concrete progress in the treatment of women in the military, altered Perron’s naïve view.

With national security playing such sizeable a role today, it is an important to ask questions about the effects it has on the military personnel. It is known that veterans go through a lot to protect, serve, and defend this nation for a better tomorrow. But in response to their actions to benefit America, does american citizens and it’s government do all to support our veterans. Are they appropriately being awarded compensation as of loss, injury, and suffering? With the number of veterans growing will they all receive recognition for their efforts as an individual and a whole? The veteran population has adapted through the ages to meet demand, but there has always remained the solid respect and uttermost gratitude towards them. Even though

Laura Dempsey, a civil rights lawyer and political consultant, writes “Military vs. Wives,” to argue how the military lifestyle makes it untenable for military wives to have successful careers. In the article, Dempsey gives a list of policies, designated for military wives, which should be enforced by the government and military. This list includes: regulatory and licensure exemptions, exempt local and state taxes, college tuition to be in-state, require universities to accept transfer credit, distribute positions on military installations to spouses, and provided improved child-care. The author composed her argument with a logical method appeal. Dempsey establishes her argument by providing facts, firsthand experience, and credibility.

In today’s society, it is nearly impossible to discredit the support, assistance, and roles that men and women in America have taken on and their contributions to protecting America throughout history which they continue to do today. More than ever, the population of the Armed Forces is constantly expanding and increasing daily is within the modern United States Military. However, over 2 million Americans have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade and increasing numbers are returning home with complex mental and behavioral health challenges (American Psychological Association [APA], 2009).

Could you imagine not being able to pursue the job you have always dreamed of doing? Rosie the Riveter inspired women during World War Two that they could take the job positions of men who were fighting the fight to save their country. “Rosie the Riveter” was the start of a government campaign that led women towards working during World War Two, and she became known all around the world as the woman with the slogan “we can do it”.

Imagine a scenario where men and women fight alongside each other in military combat, with no gender barrier separating them. Bullets fly from each side and women are able to prove their capabilities in war. The Declaration of Independence states only that “all men are created equal,” and the Constitution gives equal protection to any human. But nowhere does it say that men and women should be discriminated against according to their “physical stereotypes.” Without officially recognizing women’s role in combat, they they are given injustice and are discriminated by not being eligible for high end positions in the U.S. military like men are. In January 2013, the military made a changing decision to recognize women’s experience in combat for

A woman being in combat or on enemy lines has been a controversial issue for decades. It has been debated that women do not compare to men when it comes to physical stature. “The army’s own opinion surveys prior to 2001 consistently reported 85% to 90% of enlisted women oppose ‘being assigned to combat units on the same basis as men”’ (Schlafly 20). Women prefer to be with only women, while men prefer to fight with other men. Women are currently allowed to serve in combat, but not in positions such as infantry. Many people are criticizing whether women can handle being on enemy lines while others want to open those positions up to women. Women should not be allowed in combat because they are not as physically capable as a man, menstruation

In the United States, Women have always been involved in the United States Armed forces in many ways for centuries but, Women were not allowed to serve in military combat. This ongoing dispute of whether Women are even cable of serving in military combat is exhausting.

Also, gender equality in the military would have a positive impact on the United States’ society. By integrating females in traditionally male-dominated roles, it would coerce perspectives to be seen and the chance to see the fault in assumptions about gender; not only would it benefit the United States, but one could argue the positive impact it would have on women culture throughout the world. With America being such a gigantic influence to the world, passing a policy sanctioning one hundred percent gender equality would be a step in the right direction for females everywhere.

Connell states that hegemonic masculinity is likely to be established only if there is some correspondence between cultural ideal and institutional power. Using this definition the military men can legitimately make a claim to hegemonic masculinity. As service members they are agents of the state domination, legally vested with the right to use lethal force in order to maintain domination. Similarly, in the case of the Indian army, it may be interesting to see how the army personnel not only represent the ideal masculinity but also use their institutional power in order to establish their masculinity as hegemonic.

The gender role in military as women categorized and stereotyped by men has never been easy. Military does not require muscular or gender power for leadership in combat or command positions. Some men believe that women in command will weaken the military tradition or military in context. The gender role of “women” and “soldiers” proved to many that is uncontested in World War I and II when women served as auxiliaries. Women have a long history of service in the military.