Why are most jobs in the army restricted against women?

Question

Says it all!

Answer 1

They really aren't supposed to be, some people are just sexist. The idea of an army, supposing to being one unit looking the same, in that sense, there are tons of differences between the two in the idea of the differences between genders. That last part was really confusing

Answer 2

For the U.S. government to discriminate on the basis of gender it must prove what the Supreme Court calls a "compelling government interest". This is part of the Strict Scrutiny level of testing and is the highest standard of judicial review used by the S.C. Basically it means that the government has to have a VERY good reason to discriminate on something intrinsic like race or gender. In the case of the military, I imagine they justify the discrimination by saying that women would be less effective in certain positions mainly for being less physically powerful than men. I know for a fact that the Army has different physical requirements for women as far as running distance, push-ups, etc. Personally, I do not recall this ever being challenged in court and I don't think any action against the Department of Defense would go very far. For one, they make very sure they are within the law, and also, they have very good lawyers working for them, and have an exceptional win record in high level cases.

Answer 3

I hear complaints every day as to why women are not allowed in certian MOS's (Military Occupational Specialties). Logistics is a big portion of the reason. It creates a bigger logistical problem to sustain women whom require more personal needs, especially on long missions. If the women do not receive these supplies, it causes a health issue for them and the unit. In the three particular men-only areas: Armor, Infantry, and Artillery, these are the biggest factors. Many soldiers in these types of units undergo stressful and degrading training. At the core, it is possibly just a legacy law left over from the old days of the Army, but logistics aspect still remains a key issue.

However, if this were to be reversed, and women were then allowed into these fields, they could not expect special treatment because of their gender. When we bring our co-ed support battalion out on field missions with my all-male unit, they REQUIRE that we have field showers and heated/air conditioned sleeping quarters. It is my belief that equality should be true equality. We should all always get the same treatment. If they are going to have field showers out with the co-ed support, there should be field showers out when it's just us.

And before I write a book, the only other aspect as to why this is still in place is fraternization. Nothing breaks down a unit faster than fraternizing. When a working relationship crosses the boundry, it causes a major issue for a unit...and with forward-deployed units such as infantry, armor, and artillery, a major issue could cost many lives and lots of money.

I agree in the equality of it all...however...it should be TRUE equality, with no special treatment for either gender.

-Tim

Answer 4

not most jobs only a few (only the ones that involve fighting, imagaine that, the military without fighting...)
kinda like women used to have most rights, except some (like voting).
It's important to remember that often times things are only important if you don't have them, so a lot of men say that it doesn't matter, but that's just cuz those jobs are open to them.
I believe reason the military gives is that in a combat situation, men may have some sort to instinct to protect women.
On the other hand, while many people say that women won't be able to handle the stress, a lot of men can't handle the stress and crack, too (think the recent case where the private raped and murdered a 14 year old Iraqi girl and killed her family. Apparently, psychotic young men are okay, as long as they aren't psychologically sound women)

Answer 5

Shows me how ignorant you are.

With the exception to combat arms (infantry), all occupation specialties are open to women. Even combat helo.

Why not lose the feminist attitude and research a bit eh?? Then you won't embarrass yourself anymore..


edit -

Elfstone,

The sicko that commited the rape and murder of that girls family was already disturbed. Combat had no affect on him. Do a little checking before rattling off incorrect garble. That private had issues before he came in and was a known troublemaker. Where the system failed, was letting him into the Marine Corps.

Answer 6

Not really. The military tries hard to not put women in harms way. Your specialty (or lack of one) determines where you serve.

Women cannot carry a specialty that would place them on the front line.

The Navy lets women serve on combat ships however...so there is a little discrepancy as far as that goes. I guess with a ship, you just sink, and drown. In the Army there would be a chance you could become a POW, and I suppose that would be bad mojo.

Answer 7

Most jobs in the Army are open to women.

The only ones that are closed to women are the combat arms roles (infantry, armour, etc), and for good reason.

And the reason for this is that, whilst generally standards of strength and endurance are lowered for women in the military, the requirments of combat will not change, and the enemy certainly does not make concessions for females.

Answer 8

Women are supposed to barred from combat applications, therefore they are restricted to support roles. This will change though, just as women's roles in the military have expanded greatly since WWII. Examples: women pilots and flight crews, women paratroopers in support roles, etc. As long as a female can hold her own surrounded by mostly male troops, I don't have a problem with them seeing action but you will probably never see women in any type of special operations situations unless the mission specificaly calls for it.

Answer 9

No. The exact opposite is true. Only the Combat Arms (Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery & Air Defense Artillery) positions that place women in positions of directcombat are restricted.

When I was in Iraq I met a female officer in Air Defense Artillery and she had been in combat.

Answer 10

As a 0311 gunner in the Marine corps, the things i saw in Iraq a woman couldn't handle even with training, and with dead women on the news it would be nothing nice...its for the safty of them not as much as it is sexist...i'm sorry that you want to shoot sh it but as far as i can tell its not happening soon...