Combat with Femininity
Women are thought of as weak, that they cannot handle the strain of combat. They are looked down upon as the inferior gender. As a result, there was much controversy when the Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, lifted a ban on women serving in combat roles, which overturned the 1994 rule that forbid them. Many people questioned, “Should women be allowed in combat?” Ironically, that is where they are wrong. It is necessary that military women be “allowed” in combat; they proved themselves capable in combat roles, that they will not disrupt the cohesion of the team, and that they are as physically capable as their male counterparts.
Until 2013, the Pentagon barred women from combat roles. Pentagon policy prohibited females …show more content…
Wildlife ranger Aline Masika Kisamya Kisamya, along with her female cohorts, proved this when they passed the strenuous selection process and rigorous training to become Virunga rangers. Being a ranger in Virunga’s paramilitary conservation brigade is not only one of the most prestigious jobs but also one of the most dangerous jobs in Eastern Congo (Hatcher). In fact, “Since 1996, more than 150 Virunga rangers have been killed in the line of duty (Hatcher). It being such a dangerous job, the females are tested to the same limit as their male counterparts. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, says of the women, “They’re tough…We don’t make them any concessions. We make it as hard as it would be for a male ranger” (Hatcher). These women undergo the same exercises, learning battle tactics and survival techniques, all the while sleeping in the open alongside their guns and male counterparts (Hatcher). Furthermore, another two women will also go down is history by being the first female soldiers to graduate from the Army’s Ranger School. Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver are among the 96 students to graduate after completing the grueling training which consisted of a 62-day course with minimal food and sleep along with a physical fitness test of “49 pushups, 59 situps, a 5-mile run in 40 minutes, six chin-ups, a swim test, a land …show more content…
"Women in the Military Statistics." Statistic Brain, 27 July 2016, www.statisticbrain.com/women-in-the-military-statistics/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2016.
Hatcher, Jessica. "Meet the First Female Rangers to Guard One of World 's Deadliest Parks." National Geographic, 14 Oct. 2015, news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151014- virunga-women-rangers-mountain-gorillas-congo/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
Johnson, Kathy. "Women in Combat: History and Future." The Military Law Task Force, 28 Feb. 2013, nlgmltf.org/military-law/2013/women-in-combat-history-and-future/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
"Should Women Be Allowed to Fight in Combat?" U.S. News, 25 Jan. 2013, www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-women-be-allowed-to-fight-in-combat. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
Thompson, Mark. "American Amazons: Hiding in Plain-Jane Sight." Time, 25 Jan. 2013, nation.time.com/2013/01/28/american-amazons-hiding-in-plain-jane-sight/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
Yan, Holly, Barbara Starr, and Eugene Scott. "2 Women to Graduate from Army Ranger Course." CNN. Cable News Network, 19 Oct. 2015, www.cnn.com/2015/08/18/politics/women-graduate-army-ranger-course/index.html. Accessed 22 Sept.
Women are thought of as weak, that they cannot handle the strain of combat. They are looked down upon as the inferior gender. As a result, there was much controversy when the Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, lifted a ban on women serving in combat roles, which overturned the 1994 rule that forbid them. Many people questioned, “Should women be allowed in combat?” Ironically, that is where they are wrong. It is necessary that military women be “allowed” in combat; they proved themselves capable in combat roles, that they will not disrupt the cohesion of the team, and that they are as physically capable as their male counterparts.
Until 2013, the Pentagon barred women from combat roles. Pentagon policy prohibited females …show more content…
Wildlife ranger Aline Masika Kisamya Kisamya, along with her female cohorts, proved this when they passed the strenuous selection process and rigorous training to become Virunga rangers. Being a ranger in Virunga’s paramilitary conservation brigade is not only one of the most prestigious jobs but also one of the most dangerous jobs in Eastern Congo (Hatcher). In fact, “Since 1996, more than 150 Virunga rangers have been killed in the line of duty (Hatcher). It being such a dangerous job, the females are tested to the same limit as their male counterparts. Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, says of the women, “They’re tough…We don’t make them any concessions. We make it as hard as it would be for a male ranger” (Hatcher). These women undergo the same exercises, learning battle tactics and survival techniques, all the while sleeping in the open alongside their guns and male counterparts (Hatcher). Furthermore, another two women will also go down is history by being the first female soldiers to graduate from the Army’s Ranger School. Capt. Kristen Griest and 1st Lt. Shaye Haver are among the 96 students to graduate after completing the grueling training which consisted of a 62-day course with minimal food and sleep along with a physical fitness test of “49 pushups, 59 situps, a 5-mile run in 40 minutes, six chin-ups, a swim test, a land …show more content…
"Women in the Military Statistics." Statistic Brain, 27 July 2016, www.statisticbrain.com/women-in-the-military-statistics/. Accessed 26 Sept. 2016.
Hatcher, Jessica. "Meet the First Female Rangers to Guard One of World 's Deadliest Parks." National Geographic, 14 Oct. 2015, news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151014- virunga-women-rangers-mountain-gorillas-congo/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
Johnson, Kathy. "Women in Combat: History and Future." The Military Law Task Force, 28 Feb. 2013, nlgmltf.org/military-law/2013/women-in-combat-history-and-future/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
"Should Women Be Allowed to Fight in Combat?" U.S. News, 25 Jan. 2013, www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-women-be-allowed-to-fight-in-combat. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
Thompson, Mark. "American Amazons: Hiding in Plain-Jane Sight." Time, 25 Jan. 2013, nation.time.com/2013/01/28/american-amazons-hiding-in-plain-jane-sight/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2016.
Yan, Holly, Barbara Starr, and Eugene Scott. "2 Women to Graduate from Army Ranger Course." CNN. Cable News Network, 19 Oct. 2015, www.cnn.com/2015/08/18/politics/women-graduate-army-ranger-course/index.html. Accessed 22 Sept.