Should women be in combat?
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
8 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
15 Jan 11
Women should be allowed to do anything they want to do. If we can have a woman in the running for presidency, and a woman in the running for the Vice President, why can't a woman go to war for her country if that's what she chooses? We tell our daughters they can be anything they want to be.. so the government should stop making liars out of us. If our daughters want to be soldiers, they should be allowed to be soldiers and treated the same as any other soldier. I don't see why we're still having this conversation.. I thought we'd turned the page on equality!
2 people like this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
15 Jan 11
It's a conversation because women are physically different than men. I haven't served, and I'm not one to tell the military how they should run an operation that I know little about. What one person here has told me is that in wartime, soldiers are moving through hostile terrain, and dealing with dirty and unsanitary conditions without access to showers, baths, toilets, etc. A woman's monthly cycle is a huge issue in these conditions whereas men don't have such issues and can go without showering or cleaning for an extended period of time.
I'm all for equality, but some people seem to forget that no matter how much you say "Equality" men and women are not identical.
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
16 Jan 11
these are good points Kat. I dont chime in very strongly on the issue, simply because, as a woman, I have never wanted to be in combat. and I think it is for the military to decide.
Women on submarines scare me. Not the women, but the other men that are in close quarter with women for a long period of time.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
15 Jan 11
Why exactly would it be a problem for women to have their monthly cycle when they cannot bathe? So they'll smell bad and have dried blood between their legs for a long period of time.. what's the problem? If they choose to be out there fighting for their country, and know that these circumstances exist and still choose to do it, why should anyone have the right to say no just because they'll be a little stinky? Women do not value cleanliness more than men. They're just as capable of surviving without a shower for lengths of time, just as men are. We can pee while squatting.. women rough it just like men do. I still don't see the problem.
As far as other physical differences... well, women can train to be as strong as men, I'm sure female body builders can bench press more than typical guy can. A typical woman can weigh less than a typical man, and is probably more flexible and can squeeze into tight places easier than a guy.. I would see that as a positive for the military, having women who can squeeze through tight fences, or hide unnoticed in tight places, or being able to fit more women on a machine that has a weight limit.
The only other physical difference I can think of is that we have boobs.. though I've known a few really fat men who's boobs are bigger than mine, so that's not really a difference depending on who you're compairing!
2 people like this
@TheMetallion (1834)
• United States
15 Jan 11
The question is not whether women should be in combat -- they have been in combat for years. The question is if women should be able to receive the rewards for being in combat, in terms of pay grade, medal eligibility, and advancement opportunity that men get for being in combat.
2 people like this
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
15 Jan 11
Let me start by saying I was in the military. While, the idea that woman should be able to serve in combat is a noble one, the realities are a different story. For those who don't know, it is not one woman who cycles every month. All woman in the same combat unit cycle at the same time. Put a bunch of women together for any amount of time and this phenomena happens. As far as women are concerned, you need separate facilities, separate tents, etc.
But a little history on the subject, women didn't officially enter combat until 1992 under President Clinton. They did play supporting roles prior to that. But many jobs were closed to women. Many ships could not support women without revamping parts of the ship for accommodation.
While I do agree, if a woman wants to enter the military, she should have that option. However, it does take a special type of woman. A woman has to understand that. It is more than just playing in a man's world. But then again, it has been women who have always had to clean up the mess after wars.
2 people like this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
16 Jan 11
Yes, women should be in combat if they so choose. In fact, in some research I performed, I'd rather have a woman on a Patriot (air defense weapon system) console than a man. They tended to be "calmer" in the face of adversity, believe it or not. The guys, when a scenario of several sorties (of planes) came in to view, would start "firing" away, wasting most of their missiles. The women would wait until they saw the "whites of their eyes" and then fire. I think there's plenty of research to prove women will perform well in many combat situations.
1 person likes this
@Kalyni2011 (3496)
• India
19 Jan 11
Yes they should be in combat in all fields of life, there must be equal rights, competition in jobs..
thanks for this discussion and sharing the link
god bless, take care
kalyani
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
16 Jan 11
I tend to agree, they already are in combat. I've heard all the arguments against women in combat and the more I consider them, the more I think none of them really hold any water. Yes, there are distinct differences between the genders; no, every woman wouldn't be suitable to combat BUT neither would every man! There ARE some advantages to having women in some situations, as other here have posted. A woman's smaller size, lighter weight and added flexibility can definitely come in handy at times. The part about her "monthly cycle" is especially negligible in this day and age; all she needs to do is take birth control pills and not stop for the seven days during the times she's in the field or on the front line, if she feels it would be an issue.
It wouldn't be for me but I know a lot of guys who would say the same about themselves.
Annie
1 person likes this
@fabjonah (140)
• Philippines
15 Jan 11
i must say, yes! that women empowerment!!! women nowadays always trying to project to have equal rights with men. being a combatant is a way of expressing themselves that they are ready to embrace extremely challenging situations. i guess, there's no doubt about it... as long as they're well-equipped, they can be great heroines!!!!
1 person likes this
