Patrick Lim

Geist
Block 7
2/16/2016

Why women should be in the Military and have equal rights.

The ensuing debate on women involvement in the military is quite controversial,
in fact, congress just lifted the ban on women in January 2013. There has been many
doubts throughout history that women have endeared, but opportunities have opened
up for them in the modern day. Women should be able to join the military and have
combat roles because fighting for ones country does not depend on gender but on their
values towards their country as a whole. Gender should not play a role in ones ability to
achieve.

Americas main ideal is freedom, the people have freedom of speech, freedom of
press, and so on and so forth. So that is why we should take our main ideal and apply it
to the military. Choice should be the reason of why women want to be in the military, not
gender, gender shouldnt be the reason why women are physically incapable of doing
what men should be able to do. Its not how your gender defines you, it is hard work and
given effort that defines you. Some women work really hard in the military, and still get
discriminated against because of their gender. If women meet the standards of a
combat role, they should be able to fight it in without any discrimination because of
gender. Diversity is key because it makes a whole country stronger through making
people face challenges and making both genders work together.

There are no detrimental effects of women being in the military. A study by the
Marine Corps shows that women do not cause any detriment to unit morale in any way.
(Phillips 15) The reason why people believe that women shouldnt be allowed to be
integrated is because of the idea of a band of brothers mentality, and adding women to
it will ruin the cohesion of the unit (Phillips 14). In past times, when a country is in a
state of war and needs a dire need of soldiers, they would include women in the fighting
force. This happened in the Soviet Union during WW2 as they faced a war of attrition
against Germany. (Campbell 13) It all leads to one fighting for the protection of a
country and is not decided on gender.

Women do not meet the specific requirements in order to successfully perform in

the military. An example of this would be the pull-up, women usually do not have upper
body strength and this is the major drawback for women. When your 220 pound fallen
male comrade has fallen down, what does a 130 average Jane soldier do? Instead, If
unit integration does not work, then segregated units of gender could be probable
considering the difficulties faced when men and women are mixed. (Company 15)
Though gender segregation might seem a little sexist, it is still possible that women
could have specific roles inside the unit, instead of being a frontline grunt, they could
take more agile, stealthy, and silent roles. Positions include, sniper, recon, and agent.

Women should be able to serve regardless of gender. The most basic principles
of success will apply themselves to the military if the government let them. If women

meet the requirements, then they should be able to serve regardless of gender.
Basically it all leads down to this point, if you want it, work for it, because of the already
established traditions and requirements mainly suited to men, women will have a hard
time gaining equal opportunities. Since the requirements for specific jobs in the military
are already suited to men, women will have to work harder, but hard work will pay off
and women might theoretically become better and more efficient soldiers because of the
hard work and dedication put in. The day will come when women are equal to men and
by allowing women to participate gradually in the military and testing their limits, the
army will be stronger because it is benefited by both genders.