Women in the Military Essay

Here is my seven-page essay; I still have to include references from the textbook, but it I am finding it very difficult to mention anything relating to women soldiers. I will continue to dissect the book at a later time. Just thought I'd post my essay now and edit it later with my newly-acquired information.

Despite women not even gaining the right to vote until 1920, American women fought and died gallantly for their country and its freedom. History discloses little information about pre-World War II women soldiers, but I feel it is detrimental that Americans realize there were indeed women fighting alongside men in every war America partook in, and it was because of their brave natures and help that America is the independent, great nation it is today.
The Civil War, which began in 1861, was the very first war the officially free Americans fought. It was an unfortunate war fought between the North and the South- brother fought brother, and, of course, sister fought sister. Due to obvious physical characteristics women possess, it was rather difficult for women to sneak into the military. Women had to flatten their chests with liniments and tight clothing, cut their hair to resemble that of a man’s, and avoid being seen naked. Fortunately for them, however, in those days the military did not do naked inspections, so the genitals were never viewed which would have been a dead giveaway. These brave women fought heroically alongside men, constantly fearing their sex would be discovered and they would be ridiculed and sent back home to serve the traditional role as a housewife, where they would be treated as subordinate to men once more. It is estimated that at least four hundred women served on each side during the Civil War#. Among these four hundred women, most of whom are not known, were Cathay Williams who registered under the name William Cathay, and Sarah Rosetta Wakeman. After the North’s victory in May, 1865, the brave soldiers returned to their homes where they once again absorbed themselves in their daily routines. I can only imagine the women soldiers’ frustration at being treated as inferior to men after willingly volunteering to serve their country in battle. After this war, women took an active role in other wars as well, gallantly serving and dying for their country.
It was, perhaps, World War I which was the most significant war in history for women. During this war, men left in droves to fight overseas against the enemy while women were left to work in the abandoned factories, fulfilling the jobs of the men that left them behind. Rosie the Riveter and other icons served as empowerment to women, encouraging them to leave the traditional role as subordinate homemaker and help make necessary tools the men fighting would surely need. Posters stating “It’s a woman’s war, too!” depicting a woman Navy Seal encouraged many women to fight in the war, although they were not of course granted equality in the military. Most women served as nurses or clerical positions. It was during this empowering time for women that many banded together, finally demanding, not merely requesting, the right to equality. Perhaps it was the advertisements stating “We can do it!“ or the past works of women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton that motivated women to fight for independence; nonetheless, the fires for equality were finally lit. Over thirty thousand women served in the US Navy and Army Nurse Corps and other military branches, despite the fact they were not even given the right to vote.# It was the women’s involvement in World War I that instigated President Woodrow Wilson’s urging of the Senate to guarantee women the right to vote. He is quoted to have said, “We have made partners of the women in this war; shall we admit them only to a partnership of suffering and sacrifice and toil and not to a partnership of privilege and right?" The nineteenth amendment was finally passed, guaranteeing women the right to vote.
It was truly a celebratory event when women gained the right to franchise in 1920; the battle was not over, however, to gain further equality for women. In 1923 the Equal Rights Amendment, which would guarantee equality for both men and women, was proposed, but unfortunately was never ratified.# I find it absolutely infuriating that women now have the right to vote, and fight and die for their country, but are not legally regarded as equal beings to men. How is this even possible? Women are not supposed to fight on the front lines in wartime, and are even today still regarded as subordinate to men in many manners. Even commercials enforce the idea that women are second in status to men. It is always the woman serving the family home-cooked meals or using new cleaning products. If women are allowed to fight and die for America, why are they not considered equal to men in the eyes of the Senate?
Much controversy has been generated regarding the fact that women are allowed the right to fight in combat and serve as soldiers in all present and future wars. “We want women to serve everywhere, except in ground combat,” said Rep. John McHugh, a Republican from New York. Many Democrats retaliated upon hearing this declaration, arguing that banning women from serving in ground combat would be insulting to women.# Despite the Democrat’s rebuttals, the amendment proposing the banning of women from ground combat passed. "Many Americans feel that women in combat or combat support positions is not a bridge we want to cross at this point," Rep. John McHugh stated after the amendment passed.# To play ‘Devil’s advocate”, many Americans feel that women SHOULD be allowed to fight in ground combat. Allowing women to join the military and receive praises for being a soldier is great, but it is plain cruel to demoralize women by prohibiting them from serving in ground combat and instead reserving this esteemed, dangerous position only for men. It is quite the insult indeed as a woman to be told we are good enough to serve as soldiers, but not quite ‘good enough’ to be in the direct line of fire. The War in Iraq is definitely not a typical war. In Iraq, there is no designated line of fire, so any location is susceptible to receiving violent attacks. How, therefore, are women going to be prohibited from fighting in a direct line of fire? Removing a woman from a certain position or location simply because there is a chance she could be in ground combat is absolutely ridiculous, in my opinion. If a soldier passes boot camp and receives the dignity and honor worthy of a soldier, he or she obviously maintains all the necessary ingredients that make up an American soldier, so why should any capable individual be removed from a position and designated to one less dangerous? Army researchers have concluded from multiple tests that when correctly trained, a woman can be just as strong as a man.# If an individual were to tell a woman soldier in Iraq right now that they are prohibited from serving in the direct line of fire, and he or she would surely receive a sarcastic laugh and a quick telling-off. The War in Iraq, as stated previously, is not like traditional wars with designated attack zone, so every soldier is constantly under pressure and is expected to pay attention to his or her surroundings. Demoting a person from a position or location based simply upon sex, therefore, is not logical. Every soldier should be placed into each and every position based upon ability, not sex.
Many individuals debate that women are not psychologically prepared to kill. Personality determines an individual, and everybody’s personality is different. It’s not a universal rule that being born a male automatically makes you brutish and a natural-born killer. Genetics and how an individual has been raised is responsible for how a person will be able to handle killing, not sex. Many men are upset that women are allowed to serve as soldiers in the military because of the traditional chauvinistic idea that men are supposed to be the protectors of women. I personally love the quote stated by Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient: “You men are not our protectors,” she states, “If you were, who would there be to protect us from?”# Legally, women are able to serve in 90 percent of all military careers, but they are not able to serve in the infantry. Women want equality, demand it, and expect it- why should we not therefore be given the right to serve in any career we have the ability to excel in?
Women soldiers not only have to worry about fighting to protect themselves and their country, but they also have to worry about sexual, verbal, and physical harassment from fellow soldiers. Female soldiers are commonly warned not to leave their tents at night and walk alone for fear of rape- and not from the enemy, but from individuals that are supposed to be trusted. Reportedly, in 2003, three women soldiers died of dehydration- not because water was not readily available, but because the latrines were located across the military camp and the women feared for their lives to walk across the camp.# Women soldiers are commonly viewed as objects of pleasure for male soldiers. According to a survey of women soldiers serving in the Vietnam War and other wars through the Gulf War, thirty percent admitted to being raped by a fellow soldier. # Ninety percent of these women admitted to being sexually harassed. One woman soldier stated, “There are only three kinds of female the men let you be in the military- a bitch, ho, or dyke”. If a woman denies a man sexual activities, she is a bitch; if a woman denies a man based upon the fact that she is in a relationship, she is a ho. If a woman denies a man simply because she does not want him, she is referred to as a dyke. I am shocked at the derogatory names used from males to describe their fellow soldiers. In Vietnam, prostitutes were not an anomaly, but in the Middle East where the war is currently being fought, women are veiled and viewed as property of their husbands, out of reach and off-limits to American soldiers. In order to satiate their sexual urges, many male soldiers turn to fellow female soldiers. Only 181 out of 2,112 military rapists were court-martialed (prosecuted), which means the other 1,931 soldiers were given menial to no punishments whatsoever. # Reportedly, the number of military rapes has jumped seventy-three percent from 2004 to 2006- an undoubtedly alarming number. Many women who are sexually assaulted never reveal to another soul what occurred. Many women soldiers fear reprimands from fellow soldiers for “outting a fellow soldier”, and still others view it as pointless to report the assaulter for fear he will be given no punishment.
Many women soldiers experience from post traumatic stress disorder after being discharged from the military or war zone. This disorder does not only originate from seeing a loved one die in combat or occur after killing the enemy- oftentimes, this disorder (also referred to as military sexual trauma) is brought on by sexual assault from fellow soldiers. Many women soldiers seek professional health at the Women’s Trauma Recovery Program in California, run by Veteran’s Affairs. The Pentagon claims they are making efforts to reduce and eventually eliminate the number of sexual assault cases.
Returning from war a wounded male is a hard concept to grasp indeed. It is perhaps even harder to return from war a wounded female. Many women who have lost their legs in battle struggle with the knowledge they will never be able to wear high heels again. Those with missing hands must live with knowing they will never be able to have painted fingernails or fasten their own bra again. Female soldiers struggle with depression, knowing their chances to be feminine have been greatly diminished through injury. A camp has been created recently, however, with all intents and purposes of teaching wounded women they can still be feminine and beautiful, despite injuries. This camp is a great opportunity to allow women the chance to bond with other women and exchange words of wisdom, comfort, and advice. It is very important, I believe, for men to receive male-bonding time, and women to receive bonding time with other women in order to attain self-love and appreciation for their bodies once again. #
Of course I must not forget to mention the belief that women cannot be soldiers because they are able to get pregnant, which wound make them unable to serve in the military. Yes, women soldiers ARE privied to maternal leave- however, the amount of time women have taken off due to pregnancy greatly undermines (twice as less) the amount of time men soldiers have taken off for substance abuse or drug rehabilitation. Pregnancy evacuations make up only one percent of the medical evacuations numbers. New mothers are deployed to war zones soon after returning to work from military leave, which means they must put down their wee baby and instead pick up a gun and head to work. Forty percent of military women are mothers, and about ten percent become pregnant annually. Women are usually given four months of maternity leave, but some argue doubling the allotted time would encourage more women to join the military.# Who knows if extending the time of maternal leave would entice more women to join or not. The fact of the matter is, it is a very hard situation indeed for a newborn parent to leave his or her new child to enter a war zone. I do not believe it would be only women who would struggle with leaving behind her newborn- I know from experience men also view this situation as a low blow. Therefore, I do not believe women should be excluded from fighting in a war based solely on the fact they are able to procure offspring. #
Women now proudly serve in all branches of the military, standing alongside men fighting for and defending the Red, White, and Blue. Women have come a long way in history- from serving men in the kitchen to fighting in wars, but they still have a long way to go to gain equality in all aspects. Women deserve to serve in a military where they may fear no rape or sexual assault from fellow soldiers, and they deserve the right to feel safe in the presence of those they must ultimately rely upon in times of need. There is no logical reason why a woman should be prohibited from fighting in the military, and there is no moral reason or permissible excuse as to why women should be harassed from other soldiers. Women have been demanding equality for centuries, and we are going to continue to demand it until we have attained our goal in every way imaginable.