U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that all U.S. Army combat roles will be open to women. About 220,000 roles will be open to women. In 2013 a ban on women serving in combat roles was lifted, the military was given until 2016 to state specific roles they wanted to stay closed to women. General Joseph Dunford said that some exceptions should be made based on studies that show mixed gender units didn't work as well in some areas as all male ones. Carter said that no exceptions will be made. Women have served and died in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places while serving in roles such as intelligence, logistics and piloting. This act will open roles to women such as Navy Seals and Army Delta units.
I am no expert in the military, but I know that this is a big step for women in a field dominated by men, a field where gender discriminated is quiet common. This reminds me of when women took over the industrial jobs, usually filled with men, at times of war. Even though now the women are serving in the war. Carter said it well, that "America's force of the future must be able to benefit from the broadest possible pool of talent", which doesn't anger the traditional gender discriminators saying the army is for men by plainly saying "Our girls are fighting alongside our boys now, deal with it." I'd like to say that Elizabeth Stanton and Susan B. Anthony would be proud, having been advocates for women's suffrage, but they were also seriously against war.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34994134
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ReplyDeleteI agree, I think this is a wonderful thing that they are making these changes in the United States Army. It's always good news to hear about rules being changed to be more friendly to both genders so that they can be as equal as possible. I agree with your analysis about the women in the sufferage movement.
-Isabella Montague 5th peri
I can't believe that this hasn't happened many years ago. It's a great step towards gender equality in the long run, and it's nice seeing woman in a leading position that's a male dominated role.
ReplyDeleteShara Jeyarajah
All of the above is exactly what I am thinking, the fact that these roles haven't been open to women before now is a little mind boggling but better late than never.
ReplyDeleteTristin Manus 8th- Finally! America is moving forward while blurring the persistent gender roles. America needs gender equality, and this is one step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteBig up to women!
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