Reflections on the Military

            I chose to do my final women’s studies project on women in the military because it is a very personal subject for me. As a child of a military family, I have seen first hand the many types of oppression women face everyday as a member of the armed forces. Although I have lived all over the world, I have also lived on three military bases: Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, Fort Drum in New York, and the USAG community in Garmisch, Germany. During these times I have met women who have thrived in their various branches, as well as women who did not receive their deserved promotions simply because they were not male. Although it seems like the military is a completely oppressive place for women, I do believe that it can become a place of great equality. Much like desegregation was a part of the military before the rest of the world, equal pay and power can be seen in the military before anywhere else as well. I believe that with continued review and reform, the military might inspire the idea of equality globally. 

Possibilities for Change

As a powerful institution, the military has the possibility to be a very positive influence in the lives of women. At the moment the military provides something that outside employers do not: equal pay for equal work. Unfortunately, women do not often get the chance for equal work. Only 5% of the officers in the military are women. However, this idea is a great equalizer in the military when women receive the chance to hold leadership positions. Although the status of women within the military is nowhere close to equal, there are many efforts being made to change this. The Department of Defense is reviewing and reforming its policies on sexual assault, women themselves are gaining leadership through merit and enrollment in rigorous military academies, and the military is attempting to promote diversity through upcoming polices and recruitment. With more work, and women supporting and pushing this drive for diversity, the institution of the military may be a positive place for women in the future. 

Issues Women Face in the Military

The military is an important institution to explore because it effects women’s lives in numerous ways. As an employer, the military has the power to both empower and oppress women like many other institutions. Although the military has given women leadership positions, it has also been the source of vast sexualized violence and harassment. In 1991, more than one hundred Navy officers sexually assaulted dozens of women without one conviction. Five years later a series of sexual assaults occurred at the Aberdeen Proving Ground that led to charges against a dozen Army drill instructors. These are just two of the cases of thousands of reported and unreported cases of assault that occur every year. In this way, the military presents itself as an example of an institution that plays out the power struggle between men and women. This is a dangerous problem because the military has a large influence on the workings of the state. The policies in the military often reflect many of those in the government. 

The History of Women in the Military

    The military, which is a branch of the government, is an integral part of the state and political system. This institution is focused both on defense, and preserving economic interests abroad. Unfortunately, the military is also a male-dominated entity in regards to its personnel, and on the traits it was founded upon. Hierarchy, power, and conflict are all characteristics that can be found in this institution. Unfortunately, this furthers the often oppressive atmosphere that can arise for women. Although many women around the world encounter difficulties within the military, the United States has an interesting history.

            Women were not allowed to serve formally in the military until World War II. Another milestone did not occur until 1976 when women were then admitted into military academies. In 1994, more positions were finally open to women in all branches of the military, however, infantry, armor, artillery, and special operations still remain off-limits. Today, women make up a very small part of the armed forces, and many positions still remain off-limits to women:

Percentage of Women in Military Branches:

Air Force: 19.5%

Navy: 14.4%

Army: 14.3 %

Marine Corps: 6%

Percentage of Military Positions Open to Women:

Air Force: 99% (a small expection)

Navy: 91%

Army: 70%

Marine Corps: 62%