Analysis of Women in the Military
Analysis of Women in the MilitaryWomen have been compared to the frailty and beauty of ripe
apricots in modern poetry; the reference could be construed as sexual.
However, in spite of their frailty and beauty, women have served in
combat positions in one capacity or another since the beginning of the
United States, long before the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps
in 1901. Many women willingly entered the pits of battle, disguised
as men and using male names in past wars. With growing numbers of
women in the military and their roles in Desert Storm, the Persian
Gulf War, Somalia, and Bosnia, there is increasing interest regarding
their full integration and future role in combat. There are still US
military women who strive to be allowed to serve their country in
other capacities during war time since the first deployment of women
on combat ships in 1995.
Most people have trust in their armed services to protect and
uphold the ideals in which their country was founded. Allowing women
to enter the armed forces represented the ideal that everyone should
have equal opportunities to pursue happiness. Within this silver
lining there is the contention by some that in letting women serve,
especially in a direct combat role, we are defeating the primary
purpose of the military: to protect our mother country. This view
could be considered to fall in unison with the ancient double standard
that women are the weaker gender. But what is combat specifically?
Combat is about being exhausted, hungry, and living in the mud for
long periods without access to clean water for drinking or bathing.
It�s about long periods of boredom interrupted by violent interludes
of jolting fear, mingled with the agonizing cries of wounded, and the
piercing sound of artillery. It�s about the flesh burning stench from
napalm or watching as fellow comrades gasp a last breath. It�s about
extreme discomfort and random degrees of emotion coursing through your
being with no way out. Women in military specialties that are closer
to the action would result in the likelihood of their becoming
casualties just like men. Does this relevant factor elude those who
want to be in combat? During Desert Storm five women were killed by
hostile action, while two were held captive.
Some women in the military maintain that service in combat
means more promotions for them; thereby attracting more women to the
service. Has combat been reduced to an opportunity? Does this
contingency sound similar to the propaganda and glorification of war
arranged to intrigue the naive into conflict? Surveys claim that some
military women do not think of war as such. A 1992 survey concerning
differences among Army personnel found that only 12 percent of Army
enlisted women would volunteer for combat arms if...
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