Recent changes made within the United States Military have pushed for integrating women in direct combat roles.
The U.S. Department of Defense lifted a 19-year-old ban on women in combat roles in 2013, allowing the integration of men and women in the Army.
Previously, the ban barred women from being assigned to special operations and from promotions to higher roles in the military.
The exclusion of women from combat roles has commonly been referred to as the “brass ceiling.” The term was created in light of the invisible barrier preventing women from progressing in military and law enforcement roles.
Women have been on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan, but throughout history they didn’t receive the due credit for their roles. Instead of being assigned to units, they were simply attached to units, further endorsing the brass-ceiling phenomenon.
Much like the lack of acknowledgement of women performing in combat roles, the lifting of the ban doesn’t seem to be fully acknowledged and accepted. According to the Washington Post, the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force have expressed intent to open all roles to women, but the Marine Corps has plans to ask for an exemption to keep some male-only roles.
After the ban was lifted, military services were given some time to request exemptions. During the allotted time, the Marine Corps conducted an experiment that tested a gender- integrated task force.
In the experiment, each ground combat position closed to women was represented and women were spread among them in a pseudo-integration of the Marine Corps. The positions included weapons, infantry, artillery and mechanized units.
Out of the two dozen women who began the experiment, only two were left.
The overall results of the experiment, according to the Marine Corps Times, found women had more injuries than men, and male-only infantry units could carry more weight and shoot targets more accurately.
However, some participants expressed criticism of the results, saying unequal treatment was given and they reported a breakdown in unit cohesion, according to the Washington Post.
Since official results have yet to be released from Marine officials, the results of this experiment remain anecdotal.
What we do know is women have been serving in combat roles for some time now. So, the debate on whether women should be allowed to participate is not only discriminatory toward women, but it is also wrong to doing so.
Yes, some women may not meet the requirements, but neither do some men. The evaluations and determination should be left up to the individual and not the gender.
It’s time the military recognized the women who have already proven themselves and allow the integration of men and women in all roles of the military.
prhurst@indiana.edu
@IDSPeyton
