With the opening of traditionally male only combat roles to women is the United States military’s attempt to demonstrate equality. Women in the United States military have traditionally never been allowed to serve in “direct combat” positions or roles. However, with the opening of many previously closed combat related jobs to women many questions and issues are and will continue to arise. The physiological differences that exist between both genders is where most of the barriers exist. Some of those barriers are the physical abilities of females compared to males, the hygienic needs of females, and because of the differences in sexual reproductive organs coed quarters and pregnancy. Some of these “barriers” are legitimate concerns, however
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Males also have larger hearts and lungs which help aid in recovery from stressful physical activity and allow for a higher physical output (Introducing Anthropology, 2013). These facts alone would suggest that men are indeed better suited to partake in direct combat related roles than females. However, if the goal is equality, than we must allow females to have the opportunity to try. Regardless of a man’s physical stature, or ability he is afforded the opportunity to become a combat soldier. Some men will say that a woman will not be able to assist their comrade that is shot and unable to remove himself from harm 's way, but their are many men that cannot either. The facts are this: gear is heavy, people wearing gear are even heavier, and people wearing gear trying to pick up and carry other people wearing gear is miserable and sometimes damn near impossible, but a soldier is going to struggle no matter their gender. The real problem is not the difference in physical ability but the difference in standard that has to be met by male and female. The U.S. Army has two different physical standards for male and female to meet to meet qualification, if you want equality then you must evaluate equally. In the Army you must take the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), at a minimum of two times a year. A soldier 's performance on the APFT can lead to commendations, promotions, and preferential treatment it can also lead to the opposite such as, loss of position, rank, pay or even employment in the military. However,a soldier could be kicked out of service for the same performance another soldier performs on their APFT because of gender alone (Army PRT, 2016). If equality is the goal than the standard must be equal as
Males also have larger hearts and lungs which help aid in recovery from stressful physical activity and allow for a higher physical output (Introducing Anthropology, 2013). These facts alone would suggest that men are indeed better suited to partake in direct combat related roles than females. However, if the goal is equality, than we must allow females to have the opportunity to try. Regardless of a man’s physical stature, or ability he is afforded the opportunity to become a combat soldier. Some men will say that a woman will not be able to assist their comrade that is shot and unable to remove himself from harm 's way, but their are many men that cannot either. The facts are this: gear is heavy, people wearing gear are even heavier, and people wearing gear trying to pick up and carry other people wearing gear is miserable and sometimes damn near impossible, but a soldier is going to struggle no matter their gender. The real problem is not the difference in physical ability but the difference in standard that has to be met by male and female. The U.S. Army has two different physical standards for male and female to meet to meet qualification, if you want equality then you must evaluate equally. In the Army you must take the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), at a minimum of two times a year. A soldier 's performance on the APFT can lead to commendations, promotions, and preferential treatment it can also lead to the opposite such as, loss of position, rank, pay or even employment in the military. However,a soldier could be kicked out of service for the same performance another soldier performs on their APFT because of gender alone (Army PRT, 2016). If equality is the goal than the standard must be equal as