sunnevershines
Registered Member
Do women belong in combat? Not back forty stuff but up--front--boots on the ground combat.
Gi Jane, if you please
- Thread starter sunnevershines
- Start date
Define "women".
sunnevershines
Registered Member
Not having testes or
Being of the 2X chromosome variety, or no teste kind...
They are flying combat missions and performing other duties in the danger zone. Having been in the infantry, I know how tough it can be. Nonetheless, if a woman has the physical and mental strength to fulfill the requirements, yes. The thing about such roles is that you are expected to carry your own, there's no time for others to pack your load. It's very demanding.
sunnevershines
Registered Member
I would think that the Joes would somehow try and shield the Janes---a type of chivalry---above and beyond what soldiers already show for each other. Im not sure if chivalry can be basic trained out...
DaveC426913
Valued Senior Member
Hang on. The OP has not finished forming the question.
Any responses make an assumption about why women would or would not belong in combat. Perhaps it is their increased psychic abilities, or a dearth of midichlorians in their blood.
So, @sunevershines, please finish the question. Is there some reason why women might not belong in combat?
Any responses make an assumption about why women would or would not belong in combat. Perhaps it is their increased psychic abilities, or a dearth of midichlorians in their blood.
So, @sunevershines, please finish the question. Is there some reason why women might not belong in combat?
DaveC426913
Valued Senior Member
Ah. OK, so you think that other soldiers might behave differently around them.
There's a simple fix for that.
Don't let any men into the military. A military force of women-only will make your problem go away.
sunnevershines
Registered Member
Haha very true...it would probably reduce war time casualties...
exchemist
Valued Senior Member
This sounds to me like many of the fake arguments I have heard, in the course of my life, against women doing various things.
I remember heated debates about whether women should be admitted to the rowing club, back in the 70s. There were all sorts of theories that they would develop muscles that made look unwomanly, that were too weak to row at any decent speed, would they be strong enough to carry the boat in after a hard outing,etc, etc. And now? Well just look at the women in this video for 30 seconds, from 18min mark:
Speed through elegance and controlled power, and perfectly feminine physiques too. Rowing has been made immeasurably better by the advent of women. But few people foresaw that it would, at the start.
And then there were arguments about the first women technologists at the refinery where I worked. But they could get the operators to do things the men couldn't - feminine ways of persuasion proved an advantage. And so on and so on.
As for the armed services, I see no reason at all why the same camaraderie should not exist between women and men as exists between men and men. Nothing that a bit of training cannot do perfectly well.
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If she has the ability to perform the job, they probably would expect the same from her as they would anyone else.
DaveC426913
Valued Senior Member
It is also, by the way, the very same argument used to keep homosexuals out of the military.
exchemist
Valued Senior Member
Yes. As it happens there are plenty of accounts of great bravery and military achievement shown by homosexuals during WW1 (e.g. T.E. Lawrence) and WW2.
So long as the military culture can treat people equally and in a mature way, there need not be any problems I am sure.
I thought all soldiers were supposed to look out for each other.
It's a team effort, but you need carry your own weight. It's more than pointing a gun and pulling a trigger. Also, there are no creature comforts for a "grunt."
sculptor
Valued Senior Member
I am all for equal rights but i think its just as foolish to overestimate your abilities. Sure, there are women who do have the physical and mental capabilities as men to be in combat but not many. Real on the ground, packing a 70lb full load in the heat of battle? Get real.
Boot camp is not real life. Real combat on the front lines and on the ground infantry (not support positions) would entail serious risks such as rape. Now, can you envision a recruiter asking a potential female recruit 'there is a very high probability of rape of female soldiers in your chosen profession, are you sure you will be able to handle it? Will you be able to suck it up and soldier on?' Crazy.
Women can do well in support positions in military. I know a woman who was a pilot but hand to hand combat against other men? Most women cant even through a grenade past five or six feet besides the fact they are physically weaker overall in comparison even to the weakest male. No contest there.
Who proposes these outlandish ideas? The random butch who has the female sensibility of steel? A senator in congress who has never been in the military or ever seen combat or anywhere near it ever?
Women can be stupid too, go overboard and be unrealistic in their high and mighty power trip divorced from reality.
Boot camp is not real life. Real combat on the front lines and on the ground infantry (not support positions) would entail serious risks such as rape. Now, can you envision a recruiter asking a potential female recruit 'there is a very high probability of rape of female soldiers in your chosen profession, are you sure you will be able to handle it? Will you be able to suck it up and soldier on?' Crazy.
Women can do well in support positions in military. I know a woman who was a pilot but hand to hand combat against other men? Most women cant even through a grenade past five or six feet besides the fact they are physically weaker overall in comparison even to the weakest male. No contest there.
Who proposes these outlandish ideas? The random butch who has the female sensibility of steel? A senator in congress who has never been in the military or ever seen combat or anywhere near it ever?
Women can be stupid too, go overboard and be unrealistic in their high and mighty power trip divorced from reality.
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Men can't usually do that stuff, either. It takes a little training.
Do you believe the Earth is less than 10 000 years old?
Uh ok. Thats all it requires, just some training.