critical thinking

2

Women in the Military

Sharva Harris

Concorde Career College

July 23, 2021

Numerous research studies surrounding women's service in the military have pointed out the gap and differences that exist in the military service between women and men. The United States (U.S.) military service has both men and women serving in different capacities (Moore, 2019). However, research studies have found that women face numerous challenges as compared to their male counterparts. More women in the U.S. military service face mental health problems, physical injuries, race discrimination, and gender discrimination among other challenges (Moore, 2019). Studies have shown that although men also face challenges while serving in the military, their challenges are quite different from those faced by women.

The major problem faced by women in military service is gender discrimination. Other challenges faced by women have been attributed to the fact that women are discriminated against because of their gender particularly when it comes to serving in certain capacities. Challenges such as mental health problems and frequent physical injuries have been attributed to women in the military facing gender discrimination (Moore, 2019). Gender discrimination has been found to hugely contribute to the inherent differences in physical capacity for women and men. Mental health problem among women in the military service has been found to as a result of fear of gender discrimination subjected to women in the military culture over the years (Moore, 2019). Therefore, the physical differences that exist between women and men correlate with the differences women and men experience while in military service.

There are numerous alternatives to this problem of gender discrimination American women face while in military service. The two major alternatives to this problem women face while in the military service are gender roles and gender equality (Howell, 2016, March 11). There has been debate over gender roles and differences in the American culture over the years. Gender role differences do not only affect the American military system but almost every department of American society (Howell, 2016, March 11). Equitable gender representation in American civil society has been a problem for centuries. Allowing women to occupy combat positions in the military will work a long way to cure gender discrimination in the military. Women have been discriminated against getting into combative positions in the military system (Howell, 2016, March 11). This has pushed most women into mental distress that has easily led to more physical injuries suffered by women in the military service.

The decision by Ashton Carter, the U.S. Defense Secretary in December 2015 to allow women to occupy senior positions in the military has helped in ensuring equal gender representation. More women have been allowed to occupy senior positions in the military and this has played a big role in reducing mental health among women in the military (Howell, 2016, March 11). Initially, women lived in the fear of being discriminated against to participate in certain roles and this hugely contributed to the mental distress witnessed among women in the military service. Similarly, another solution is ensuring gender equality. Gender equality is in terms of gender representation and gender number (Howell, 2016, March 11). Initially, the military unit was dominated by men leaving no room for women to showcase their talents in the military service. There have been changes in the military ensuring equal representation of men and women in the military service (Howell, 2016, March 11). With the number of women in the military significantly growing, there has been women empowerment coming within women themselves.

References

Howell, K. (2016, March 11). Defense Secretary Ashton Carter okays final strategy for women in combat. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/11/ ash-carter-approves-final-strategy-women-military-/

Moore, B. A. (2019). Understanding and working within the military culture.