Women in the Military

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“Women in the Military” PSYC 3490 – Psychology of Women By Jose Loya The women that I met while in the military joined for love of country, a desire to serve, to better themselves (education) and to travel and see the world. They were just as dedicated and diverse as their brothers in arms; the only difference is they are women and I was proud to serve with them all. In the following pages, I will provide the reader with a quick history, challenges, pros/cons and current issues with women in the military. Women have been in almost all our wars as a country, and although not formerly integrated into the military until 1948, women have been defending the United States since the revolutionary war when Margaret Corbin fought alongside her husband at Fort Washington. They have struggled with their male counterparts and the government as a whole in their history with our military. The following are just some Highlights in the History of Military Women: “American Revolution (1775-1783): Women serve on the battlefield as nurses, water bearers, cooks, laundresses and saboteurs. Civil War (1861-1865): Women provide casualty care and nursing to Union and Confederate troops at field hospitals and on the Union Hospital Ship Red Rover. Women soldiers on both sides disguise themselves as men in order to serve. In 1866, Dr. Mary Walker receives the Medal of Honor. She is the only woman to receive the nation's highest military honor. 1901: Army Nurse Corps is established. 1908: Navy Nurse Corps is established. World War I (1917-1918): During the course of the war, 21,480 Army nurses serve in military hospitals in the United States and overseas. Eighteen African-American Army nurses serve stateside caring for German prisoners of war (POWs) and African-American soldiers. Army Reorganization Act (1920): A provision of the Army

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