Women In Combat Arms Arguments

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Women In Combat Arms: The Ongoing Debate Steven Thompson University/SOC120 June 27, 2012 Since 2001, about 280,000 women have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Defense Department statistics; 144 have been killed and 856 have been wounded (Whitlock, 2012). This increase in female participation and casualties is due to the changing of the outlay of the battlefield from a conventional to a more urban one. These conflicts, where the battlefield lines are scattered and blurred, and insurgents can be around any corner, have made it almost impossible to keep women clear of combat . All of the casualties resulted while serving in a support role to combat arms units, not an actual offensive “combat arms” role. Military…show more content…
For several years there has been much debate about the role of women in combat, with some calling for more diversity by allowing women into the combat arms field; and recently, the Pentagon unveiled plans to allow women to serve in military jobs closer to the…show more content…
There will always be two debating sides. I do feel the argument is much stronger to not allow women into combat arms because of the effect that it can have on their male counterparts in combat and how the treatment and deaths of more women dying would be perceived by the public; however I propose to strike a balance between the two sides. I believe that it would be possible to open up some combat arms fields as a study to gauge our success. This success would depend on women meeting the same physical, psychological, and practical standards as men. Then, as success is reached, other fields related to direct combat, such as special operations and infantry could be opened to

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