Women in Combat

When I first received this assignment, I was told to find an editorial against women in combat that I was supposed to respond to. I thought it would not be difficult since everyone has a different view on this issue. To my surprise, it took a little searching for me to find an editorial, but I came across one. It may have just been pre-judgment, but I figured that if I found an editorial against women in combat it would be from a man. Actually it turned out to be the opposite. It was from a woman named Kathleen Parker from the Washington Post. She argues that women should not be serving in the combat roles simply because they cannot handle it based on physical and psychological limits. I completely disagree because not all women are the same, and the ones who will be signing up for this combat role will be held to the same standards as their male counterpart. An editorial in the New York Times that was published in June of 2012, said that out of the 1.4 million people in the military, 15% are women.

            In the editorial Parker said, “Arguments favoring women in direct combat are perhaps well-intentioned, focusing on fairness, opportunity and pride in certain women’s abilities. Unfortunately, most people who make those arguments are operating on false assumptions. And, shall we say, mis-truths.” Those in favor of women serving in combat are not “operating on false assumptions” but rather looking at the past and seeing that women are very successful when put under pressure. Belva Lockwood was the first woman to argue in front of the Supreme Court and was breaking down barriers wherever she went. She said, “nothing was too daring for me to attempt."

 Now to me, lifting the ban to allow women in combat situations makes sense. My family has a very strong military back ground and it did not seem to surprise them when the ban was lifted. I have met some pretty strong women in my life, whether it is just someone I met a few times in my life or a member of my family. I think if we continue to keep lumping all women together as a group that is inferior to their male counterparts, how will we have progress. Women are just as capable as men to fight on the frontlines protecting their own country.

My father was stationed in Honolulu, HI for the United States Navy. Granted, he served in the 80s, when there were very few women, and out of those women the majority were secretaries. However he said things have taken a turn since he enlisted. My father said, “The military has certainly changed since I was enlisted.” He said that if there was a woman in a position of authority or on his same rank, he would not have been threatened at all. I asked him how he felt about more women prevalent in today’s military and he said, “I do not see a problem with that at all. I think there are some very capable women in the military.” It may have just been him, but I do not think that men will be intimidated or afraid to continue fighting with a woman next to him on the frontlines. We have made tremendous progress on the fight to put men and women on the same playing field. It just seems right to lift the ban on them fighting in combat with their male counterparts.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has said, “"Our nation was built on the premise of the citizen soldier.  In our democracy...it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect the nation.  And every citizen who can meet the qualifications of service should have that opportunity." Panetta went on to say, “Women are contributing in unprecedented ways to the military's mission of defending the nation. They have become an integral part of our ability to perform our mission." Women are completely capable to serve on our front lines.

Men and women are now finally being held to the same standards. That is the way it should have always been. Women are completely capable of serving on the same lines as men. I reject the notion from Parker that women cannot handle the situation based on physical limitations. They are perfectly capable of attaining those standards that men have to achieve. It is important to realize that we do not live in the 1940s and 50s where women were to stay at home and raise the children and tend to the house. We are living in a society that is advancing rapidly. Our social norms may be behind a little, but with this new ban being lifted, we are finally moving in the right direction of making an equal playing field for men and women. There are plenty of women that are capable of fighting on the front lines with their male counterparts. It is time to move the hands of time forward, not backward.