Women Involvement in with and in Military

Throughout the American warfare history, women have been involved in varies roles, which however for many decades were restricted to noncombat exposure rather excluded from direct ground combat. They primarily served as part of the military (Winslow, 2010). In 1988, the Department of Defense (DOD) released a Risk Rule barring women from noncombat jobs with increased risks of exposing them to hostile fire, direct combat or capture. In 1994, the Risk Rule was replaced with the Ground Combat Exclusion Policy noting that all military personnel were eligible for all jobs but confined women to assignments below the brigade level (Anderson & Witham, 2010).

The reasons for the exclusion policy anchored on the belief that women are more susceptible and have the weak stamina to withstand the dynamics and stress of direct combat (Stachowitsch, 2013). Thus, women were to be protected from the risks of battlefield such as capture and torture by the enemy. Kamarck (2016) cites the case of Major Rhonda Cornum who was sexually assaulted in her captivity among many other women who peril in war as a factor limiting their integration in direct combat. It was believed battle was a man’s job, women as incubators of life should be barred from such experiences (Winslow, 2010). DOD also thought that women lacked the sufficient stamina and strength to handle the harsh living conditions and experiences of direct combat (Anderson & Witham, 2010). Lack of public support and trust on the involvement of women directly in warfare providing ground for their exclusion.

It was also believed there were sufficient men willing to fight and protect their country. Gender bias has been the epicenter of inhibition of woken in direct combat.

Despite the exclusion of women in real combat, feminism has played a critical and indispensable role in the facilitation and shaping the outcomes of battles. From the American Revolution wars to post-9/11 wars, women have been integral in shaping the outcomes of wars (Kamarck, 2016). They have served as spies, laundry workers, nurses, cooks, couriers, saboteurs, translators, radio operators, informed clerks, and been involved in direct combat though disguised as male soldiers among other services. For the many years, women were engaged in battles they have proved capable of killing and neutralizing the enemy is all spheres of the military (Anderson & Witham, 2010). Women are proved efficient and dependable in the handling of civilians, and other women better than men are (Stachowitsch, 2013).

One of the potential policy feminism can use to drive the agenda of women included in the military responsibilities is the Equal Employment Act. The Act prohibits employment discrimination based on gender, age, disability, nationality, ethnicity and sexual orientation among others. It is a constitutional right and civic duty for both the genders to defend their country free from gender prejudice and discrimination (Kamarck, 2016). Secondly, the military department should embrace change and accord significant efforts in continual gender mainstreaming (Hebert, 2011). This shall allow progressive integrating women in the predefined masculine structures. The policy promotes the palliative involvement of woken in combats rather than preventive. The policies should not be implemented overnight, but continual reformed and systems restructuring to cater for both genders (Stachowitsch, 2013). The gender mainstreaming policies shall promote changes within the gender hierarchy as opposed to of the gender hierarchy if the feminism conforms to the existing structures bound to reforms over time. Both the men and women should be ready to work and dissolve the characterization and segmentation of roles whine the military systems.

References
Anderson, M. L., & Witham, D. h. (2010). Chapter 11 Women, Power, And Politics. In Thinking About Women: Sociological Perspectives on Sex and Gender. Boston: Allyn & Bacon: Pearson.
Hebert, L. (2011). Analyzing UN & NATO Responses to Sexual Misconduct in Peacekeeping Operations. In A. Kronsell, & E. Svedberg (Eds.), Making Gender, Making War: violence, military and peacekeeping practices (pp. 121-136). Routledge.
Kamarck, K. N. (2016). Women in Combat: Issues for Congress. Washington: Congressional Research Service.
Stachowitsch, S. (2013, Feb 19). Feminism and the Current Debates on Women in Combat. Retrieved Feb 2, 2018, from E-International Relations: http://www.e-ir.info/2013/02/19/feminism-and-the-current-debates-on-women-in-combat/
Winslow, D. (2010). Gender and military sociology. Drottning Kristina: Försvarshögskolan, Sociology at the Department of Leadership and Management.