Should females be allowed tobe in combat?

Question

I was wondering, should females be allowed in combat? It makes sense, in a personnel sense, it would alleviate the manpower situation, and increase the amount of soldiers availble for combat by 50%. Other countries allow female combat soldiers. And I think everybody here agrees, woman soldiers are as brave and as dedicated to their country as men. So why not?

Answer 1

Because the enemy doesn't distinguish between whether or not a soldier is male or female, I think women should be prepared to defend themselves and their country in combat. Having said that, I guess I'd rather not expressly put them in harm's way.

Answer 2

Well, if your question is "So why not?" then, just to play devil's advocate, here you go:
1. What if the men and women fighting side by side fall in love, and the man can't fight effectively b/c he's worried about his lover getting hurt right next to him?
2. What if the men get completely distracted from their job?
3. America is also a country that places a high value on our women and children, unlike some other countries where women and children are used to walk through mine fields.
4. Women are physically different from men - how can they be in ditch for weeks on end - what if they had their period, cramps, etc and no clean water etc?
5. What if a woman becomes pregnant while in this combat situation? We are then putting her and her baby in danger.

These are just some ideas on the reasons why females probably shouldn't be allowed in combat, but I think the biggest reason is that it goes against our morals.

Answer 3

Well, in Iraq, there are no 'front lines' and women have been forced into combat because of the circumstances. So asking if they should be ALLOWED, is a moot point over in 'the sand box.'
Also, there are female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy. Case in point, in the early days of the action in Afghanistan, a female F-14 pilot off the USS Roosevelt CVN-71, blew the snot out of several Al Qaida installations.

Answer 4

First get your fatcs right. Where do you get a 50% increase from? Woman only make up about 15% of the forces at any given time. Other countries do let woman be on the front line. Name one! I know they are not part of NATO! I could not find one that did, other than Mercs for some crooked regime.

But me no. I have no doubt they could, and would perform to well. But I also believe it would in the end be a detriment to the unit, and force. For most men, they feel a sense of obligation to protect a woman in danger, this would be terrible in battle. Also I could not im my concese allow woman to be put in a position that has the very real possibility of being captured. What Woman have gone threw, who were POW is horrible. I'm not sure about ground forces, but I know the stress reliefs on a submarine would not be good if it involved woman. Allot of people would get in trouble.

Answer 5

I think you could allow them to volunteer for combat just to see how it works... but American's have weak stomachs and it will not sit well have many ladies ages 18-25 dying in combat. If the number of female deaths was half the amount of the number of male deaths I think we would be out of Iraq already. I know women have died there but not in the numbers of young men. I believe women soldiers are brave and dedicated, but I don't think that they should be made to be infantry or any other combat roles, but maybe allowing female soldiers to volunteer would be ok. But another problem would be how that with many soldiers they are going to be naturally inclined to be more protective of their female counterparts which could get in the way of the mission. Also where would the female soldiers sleep... in the barracks with the men... so not only would they have to watch out for themselves, the would have to watch out for the frustrated men they sleep with... not all of them... but there is almost always one creep in a large group of men. Oh and lets add women have periods... if you are in the field for hours or days even... well that is just nasty... you not going to carry tampons and change them while you are there... its really not fair to a women to make her work like that...

Answer 6

This is not a matter of being sexist the simple fact of the matter is that females are built differently than males and each can do some things better than the other. Now the big issue with females in combat is that most are not built to handle the physical demand that is needed, now I know there is some exceptions but not the majority. Still thinking this is sexist? Look at it this way can you or most females you know carry their weapon, 70 pounds worth of your gear, your 200 pound battle buddy who is wounded, his weapon and his 70 pounds worth of gear for at the least a mile?

Answer 7

In theory, it makes sense. But in practice it's different- they've shown that if soldiers were running from somewhere, and a male comrade fell, the other men would carry on running. But if it was a women, then men tend to go back for her and help. So having a woman in the team causes danger to everyone else and therefor, i don't think they should be allowed.

Answer 8

This question has been asked so many times.

Yes, all the old arguments against it have been proven to be incorrect assumptions over and over again.

...that and males have to carry their own shaving gear into the field and shave every morning in the cold, where they're likely to cut their faces and cause infections. And to think some people whine about the "logistical nightmare" or carrying tampons.

Answer 9

some of the reason that women have not been allowed in combat more is because of the upbringing of the American male. we have always been brought up ,to believe that we are the protector of females, this is not the thinking in a lot of county's. The female in most cases can do as good a job as males, in some cases actually better and of course in some not as good. having served with females i respect their ability, dedication, and willingness

Answer 10

I think there are places where women should definitely be allowed, however I think they have to be held to the same standard as men. If a man has to be able to lift 150 lbs to perform a certain task then ever woman in the same area should be able to do so.