The armed forces have been around for the long haul in the United States and has had many different rules and regulations. Regulations about race, gender, sexual orientation, and age have changed over the history of the armed forced but only one of those regulations has created debate for quite some time and even after it was changed. That regulation is gender and it had brought about a lot of debate in the 2000’s. From World War II women have served some role in the armed forces first being put into auxiliary units and that lasted all the way up into 2015 where the US armed forces combat positions were opened up to any women who could met the standards. According to http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/12/03/carter-telling-military-open-all-combat-jobs-women/76720656/ “in effect, Carter’s decision will open to women about 220,000 jobs in all, or about 10 percent of the entire active and reserve force. Most of those jobs are in Army and Marine Corps infantry and armor units.” Until then women were not allowed to be part of any combat mission or hold a position related to combat. Women had been separated from the rest of the men serving in the armed forced despite their willingness to join up and be part of them. Those who passed the physical requirements and the tests were still deemed not fit for combat duty. How the feel could that be if they passed all the tests and the requirements that the men had done? Why did it take so long for them to open up combat positions for women? They had been part of the armed forces since WW II and proved a vital part of the armed forces but neglected for so long.
The draft was another part of the armed forces that was unequal when you take a look at genders. The draft has been around since the civil war and men were the only ones who were ever legally required sign up. And even now women are still not required to sign up for the draft despite them participating in the roles of the armed forces for decades. Even other there were allowed to fill any combat role there were not required to sign up. So they technically cannot be forced to join the armed forces like men are in a time of need. Why haven’t they changed the law? Why women were never required to sign up for the draft if they are technically U.S. citizens like men? Many generals and other high ranking officers in all of the branches of the armed forced have been pushing for the change in the law. They want women to have to sign up for the draft just like men. But why won’t it change?
Another aspect of this gender issue is the requirement for men or women to pass in order to be part of a branch in the military. According to http://dailycaller.com/2014/01/05/gender-equality-a-double-standard-for-women-in-the-military/#ixzz4Xxt8wwFx “the U.S. Marine Corps announced that it was postponing its self-imposed deadline for women to be held to the same physical fitness standard as men. On January 1, 2014 female Marines would have been required to complete three pull ups on their physical fitness test; the same requirement as male Marines. Over 50 percent of women were unable to complete the new standard. Therefore, Marines chose to delay the deadline and allow women to pass without meeting the equal standard.” Seems unfair at first that they are having a double standard for men and women but it is true when they discuss that there are physically different. But is it truly unfair for them to make a unified standard for both men and women? They talk about equality but you have different standards for men and women. That’s is the real issue because then you just keep going around and around in a circle and never get anywhere. Yeah you make a right turn instead of a left and boom your backing to making a circle in a different direction. One thing is not changing and that is stopping the civic issue of gender inequality in the armed forces now a day.
In the end things will eventually change after enough controversy but as of now that’s how the military is doing things and it will probably stay that way for a while. Fair or not that’s how it will be. Do you think it is fair? Is there too many double standards when it comes to military and gender?
RJ, this was a very interesting approach to a civic issue blog. I knew that this was a more recent problem within our military, as we studied this debate several times in previous classes that I have had in high school. To be completely honest, I never really knew what to believe or think, as this debate is not just black and white. There is a lot of grey area where both sides could make valid arguments to defend their stance.
In regards to writing, this was a well presented blog. You had helpful and interesting rhetorical questions, you provided a lot of stats with citations, and most importantly, you showed a sense of compassion and emotion to this prompt which really made this flow well and get the person reading your blog, to stop, think, and make a more analytical judgement.
Along with your relevant questions that you asked throughout, I too have some questions formed after reading this blog? If women are incorporated within the draft, how do you make sure that a man has the same odds of getting drafted, and vice versa. Also, if we would make these significant changes to the government and involvement with women, should we change things all at once, or on the contrary, should we implement change gradually over a long period of time? These are just a couple questions that came to mind, and I personally think that these too could have valid arguments from both sides.
After reading this post, I think it is simple. If a woman is able to pass the same requirements as a man, then she too should be granted the ability to hold the same positions in the military as men. This is the most fair way to incorporate women and to quit with discrimination. Additionally, I feel that if these women passed the tests to get in the military, then they too should be included within the draft, if our country would ever have a draft.
All in all, this was a great read RJ and an even better post. Keep it up!