Equality is not Akin to Sameness: Women in the Military
Abstract
Despite the fact that women have participated on both the periphery and the front lines of combat since war has existed, how to integrate women into the US military seems new. Women have led and succeeded in war, though their accomplishments are far less known than their male counterparts. The history of women in the US military is twofold: that of the civil feminist movement for women's rights such as the right to vote, and the slower movement of women's access to all roles in the military as full martial citizens. Understanding that history and its similarities to racial integration in the military provides insight into current perceptions of women and men as the "same" in the military. Consequently, women's role in the military should be based on military standards and skills required during combat, and not women's rights. It is the luxury of a nation not facing annihilation to continue gender roles for men and women in civil and military societies. Notwithstanding positive progress for women in the military, policymakers are swayed by social discussion and sentiment rather than quantitative data regarding women in the military. The social taboo of acknowledging men and women differ physiologically actually hinders progress for women as equal members of the military. Recognizing that men and women are different facilitates the dialogue that women are not just smaller men, a discussion vital to increasing the effectiveness of women soldiers and the military's overall readiness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1159099
Entities
People
- Laura Hamilton
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies