Females in the Military.?

Question

I have always be interested in the debate about females in the Military, personally i believe that if it is proven they would be JUST as effective as males in the military--we have to realize that equality isnt always possible in a dangerous thing like the military, life and death situations for the same reason they seperate females and males in physical sports.--, i believe they can join if they overcome concerns about female periods, physical concerns, mental & tactical concerns etc, can meet the EXACT same requirements, they can join. i do realize the social boundaries about females being weak, being made for making babies, cooking etc. etc. and realize that allot of women aren't particularly interested in military service, thus shouldn't be REQUIRED to sign up for the draft. thusforth, men and women are definatley not equal physicaly or mentaly, but are similiar in many ways. but i have turned to Yahoo to get the general opinion on it, because i believe we are all entitled to our opinions. and maybe someone on yahoo can change my view on things.

I am basically asking for what you believe about Females in the military, what the policy should be.

Answer 1

Honestly as a woman I believe women should be held to the same standards as the men regardless.  My husband is in the Army and the physical requirements are changed to benefit the women.  The PT requirement (at least in the Army) for testing only include push ups, sit-ups and a run..not bench pressing.  I believe there are many women who could met the requirement currently expected of the men.  We aren't talking about having to lift huge amounts of weight here..if we were maybe the issue would be different.  I think the government was trying to allow women into the military but were trying too hard to make it fair and possible.  This is the military not a civilian job and to expect special treatment is ridiculous.  Passing just the academic tests does not equal passing all requirements.  Just my opinion.  I personally believe that the different standards are what contribute to the social boundaries in the military and only make it that much harder for women who truly want to be apart of the military.  I do believe there are some truly impressive women in the military and can definitely be a large asset to the military.

Answer 2

I don't care who it is, male female, g*y straight, religious atheist, that is beside me as long as if I get hurt they can pick me and my gear up and carry me out safely. Vice Versa applies as well.

What I don't like, for example, is when I went for my ACT test for the police that I had to bench 185 lbs and a woman had to bench 45 lbs.

It made zero sense. Similar things apply in the military, Females are given longer to run, or are required less for things in the PFT. I don't think it's fair. It should be a set amount, male female, both have to reach this goal.

It's unfortunate but the women pushing to be treating equally in the workplace or in the military are actually pushing to be treated like women in the workplace or in the military. Equality does not mean that.

Currently, to my knowledge, in the military a woman can have any job with the exception of infantry. I can't say I'm for that, but I understand their reasoning.

Couple Posts Down: No absolutely not, if I have to do 185 she should have to do 185. It's a safety issue given the line of work. If everyone had to bench 45 lbs then it really doesn't set a standard,  If she weighs 90 lbs there is obviously no hope of her competing on a brute strength level with someone who has to do 185.

It's an unfair standard that punishes men and puts the person passing it at risk.

If she gets hurt I can drag her out of the situation and get her safe. If I get hurt, I'm stuck there, she doesn't stand a chance of getting me to safety. So she either has to leave me there and in danger or struggle with trying to help me and put us both in danger.

I should note, this is by no means biased to women, men or women if all the can lift if 45 lbs they stand no chance of getting a 200+ lb person anywhere if they are incapasitated.

just l.o.v.e.

Thank you for finally reading what I actually posted. Pry after the 3rd time you scanned it you noticed I'd mentioned something specific.

Some jobs have the potential of being extremely dangerous, the standards for them should have nothing to do with the s*x of the applicant, they should rely purely on the necessity of performing the job. Both sexes should be responsible for the same standard, it should not be lower for the other, because when the time comes to do the job the standard won't be lower.

Answer 3

i belive they should stay off the front

a girl cant kick down a door like a guy can and a girl isnt as intimidateing as a man

besidse its a little harder for a girl to lift a 100lbs artillery shell then it is for a guy

Answer 4

thehoydojo.... you don't think it's fair that men have to bench press more than women? even when the anatomy and muscular structure is completely different?

If she weighs 90 lbs there is obviously no hope of her competing on a brute strength level with someone who has to do 185. <<< that was my point though, how can you expect someone 90 lbs to press 185? how would that be fair?

I'm not saying that women should get it easy and men work twice as hard to make up for where they lack but you cannot expect a someone whose is half the physical size of the next guy to be able to do the same things and that goes for men and women.

Answer 5

I feel there should be one test that both men and women need to pass.  In my mind, letting women join the military (or anything) based on lowered standards is not equality.  If a woman can pass the same test as a man, why shouldn't she be allowed to be there?  Plus men and women process information differently, I think it would be refreshing to have issues looked at from other angles.  

Regarding the high school football reference, do you think anyone is really ever prepared to get shot at?  I don't.  I think all you can do is learn what do to in that situation, accept the situation as it is, apply your training, and get out of it as safely as possible.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm in no way defending the high school girls that can't handle a game of football.  However, I know my high school definitely had a few guys that wanted nothing to do with football either.  Plus, do you think those girls are going to want to join the military?  

Answer 6

this is one of those issues that has no real right answer; the stereotypical "gray" area.  I personally believe that issues like this can only be solved case-by-case, not with blanket laws applicable to everything.  but that, of course, is impossible.  so here goes...  

women, like homosexuals and other minorities, definitely should have the right to serve equally in the military, as they should everywhere.  but they should be held to the same universal standards that for now only men are held to; rights bring responsibilities.  women allowed to serve physically should be able to do as much as their male counterparts in tests of physical ability; catering to their needs neither helps them nor the men they'll be serving with.  in my mind, if the "person" is fit for the job, give it to 'em.  if the "person (man or woman)" isn't fit for it, don't give it to 'em.  

Answer 7

I think that a woman can be a good soldier if she really wants to be one.  In general, a woman has less physical potential than a man, but that does not mean that all women are weaker than men.  I have seen women being a lot more willing to follow their orders than men, resulting in those women completing the tasks more efficiently.

Since we still in this culture, there are a lot of people who think that it's not right that men and women shower together and things like that.  That's why extra facilities have to be created which cost extra money.  But nowadays, there's not much money available, and that results in generals deciding to rather invest that money in improving the current weapons or so.

If I got into a relationship with a woman who serves in the military, I'd treat her like a soldier while on duty, and like a women when we are at home.  No, I don't mean that she'd have to serve me or so.

By the way: I have served.

Answer 8

the women wanted to join.

they passed the tests.

so why should we be concerned?

i understand what your trying to say, but they did pass the requirements to be in the military.

well for the drafts, my opinion is that it should be requiered for men, and obligatory for women.

ONLY because men tend to have bigger muscles and run faster, for no other reasons.

well that is my opinion

Answer 9

I believe that females CAN BE just as effective as their male counterparts.  HOWEVER...there are many issues with females that just cannot be resolved such as monthly cycles and such.  In some units, a female will stay on a rear-d during a field exercise because she's on her period.  It's all a part of Field Sanitation.  Females must shower once every 3 days while males can go a week.  Why?  Females are more prone to urinary tract and yeast infections than males.

Female APFT standards are different than males.  Why...because our bodies are not built the same as a male.  We have more abdominal strength designed for childbirth vs upper body strength.  Our hearts and lungs are smaller than a males which means our bodies cannot pump enough oxygen through our blood to sustain faster run times.  Not saying that a female can't run 2 miles to a male's standard because I run my 2 miles in 14 pushing 13 minutes.  I push the extended scale on all my APFTs but I work twice as hard as a male in order to achieve that.

Two females received the Silver Star for acts of bravery...something that you would normally see from a male.  One was a medic and the other was a MP.  Neither were Active duty...they were Reservist and National Guard.

Yes...it is emotionally damaging to their male counterpart if she were to die or be captured because traditional roles are that males protect females.  That's human nature...but if I had to do whatever it takes to save my male counterpart, I would do it because I know he would do the same for me.

I served as a Section Sergeant to 17 male Soldiers and NCOs.  I would give my life TWICE for them because I was their leader and I know they would do the same for me.  They didn't see me as a female Supervisor...they saw me as their own equal.  I constantly pushed them to their limits...to be as physically and mentally tough as me...and I don't think you can beat being as mentally tough as me when I had to leave a 4 month old son behind to deploy my first time.  I surprised them when I showed up and I told them that even though I have my own family to worry about, I also have this "Army family" to worry about as well and I have an obligation as their leader to take care of them as well.  I was completely devastated leaving my son...don't get me wrong...but I had my obligations to fulfill and they respected me more for than rather than taking the easy road out and staying in the rear.

There are males out there who are scared of deployment...coming here on Yahoo! Answers to find out ways to get out of deployment.  Joke or not, it's a sign of weakness...a weakness that I will never show.  And despite the fact that I will probably never see females in Combat Arms MOSs, everyone must face the fact that in Iraq/Afghanistan...we're ALL on the front lines...no matter if we're out of patrols or inside the wire.  

I had a mortar land 12 ft in front of my trailer.  Thank God a concrete barrier surrounded it or else we all would have been dead.  I had a rocket land 300m away from my communications site...thank God I taught my Soldiers how to react to indirect incoming rounds and reporting procedures...thank God my roommate knew basic Combat Lifesaving Skills because without it, a rocket victim in our living area would be DEAD today if she didn't hone her skills and remain calm while others went crazy...

It all matters on the mental toughness and maturity of the female...but seriously, I don't ever see women serving in combat situations other than during deployment.  

Imagine having 15 females in a platoon of 40.  That's already a small platoon.  Now...imagine all 15 females getting pregnant to avoid deployment.  What does that do for mission readiness?  It becomes a hinderance.  Not all females have good rifle skills.  I shoot anywhere between 35-39.  I recently shot 40 out of 40 for the first time on my M4!  Not many females can do that.  What if your only saving grace was a female who could only shoot targets as close as 150m?  You might as well call yourself dead.

Close quarters and hand-to-hand combat...I weigh a whopping 110lbs.  I made a male Soldier 100lbs more than me tap out during a Combatives section using a Rear Mount control.  During our company tournament, everyone was scared to take a bout against me...1) because I made that Soldier tap and 2) I'm feisty as it is.  My company XO (also a female and 25 lbs heavier than me) started to tire me out, but when she elbowed me in my jaw, IT WAS ON!  I was so pissed that I ended up throwing her totally off of me and over my head when she had me in Side control.  (I have plenty of witnesses if you don't believe me!)

Remember...this is coming from a female in the Army.  I don't see any problems with females being in Combat Arms MOSs but I don't think it will ever happen.  The closest a female will come to that is if she's Military Police.

Answer 10

the military doesn't have a choice, it HAS to allow women, otherwise it would not be a volunteer force.

Answer 11

They need to meet the same EXACT physical and mental requirements if they want to be on the front lines.

No Affirmative Action females.

Most of you don't know what happened to the first female naval pilot, but I do. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.ht...

There were plenty of warning signs while women were going through flight training. Most should've been let go, but the Navy just had to have a female fighter pilot. Now some are dead.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1...

The females in my OCS class all deserved to be there.

The females in my Jump School class, however, was a different story. NONE of them, ZERO, ZILCH, should've even been accepted unless the standards were lowered for ALL students.

The females who could run had no upper body strength, and the strong females couldn't run.

Areas such as medical, supply, support, and admin were areas where females tend to perform quite well.

As for warfare, the Enemy will go all out. Militaries throughout history rarely used women unless able bodied men were running out.

Women on the front lines, little boys, and old men are often a last resort.

You might as well make a woman a starting QB for the NFL.

Answer 12

Yeah, I think females should be allowed in the military if they want to be in. It's only fair. Plus it would be a big slap in the face to all those stupid men who think men are stronger.

Answer 13

when a female dies on the battlefield its probably really demoralizing, and the males would be more inclined to defend them than maybe a male who is in danger, so i dont think that its the females problem but the males. to sum it up i dont think they shouldnt be on the front lines, but i do think they should be allowed to serve elsewhere as long as they meet the same requirements as men.

Answer 14

Females have a major part to play and are valuable in many respects in the military and in a lot of cases not just some are better suited to many jobs better than us men.

But when it comes down to actual combat on the ground IE close quarter battle with an enemy who is a hefty opponent and hates women` then no! This is out of bounds for ladies.

Imagine a Taliban capturing a female western combatant.

Just.l.o.v.e.Me'

Do you think for one minute the guy that is about to kill you cares how much you can bench press or your need for equality?

Try and think about it for a moment! sexism is only a western thing it means nothing to most of the  worlds population.

Answer 15

i think that females should stay away from the front lines. because i think they would just get in the way personally. if you';ve ever been in high school or something and have played a game of football or something with contact the worse player on you're team are always the females.. so how do you think they would react if bullets where flying if they cant handle getting tackled or pass thrown to them...i'm against females on the front lines but desk jobs is a more suitable place for them.