Being a Woman in the Military, Research Paper Example

In the 21^st Century, it is not uncommon to see women in combat, firefighter uniforms, or police force uniforms. The definition of an individual in the military has always been a well-built armed man, which contemporary society is trying to reform to incorporate women. In today’s society, the army is composed of women undertaking the same roles as men. Being a woman in the military in the 21^st Century is like being one in any other field or career since it comes with benefits and downsides, which illustrates the nature of human life. However, the military area may be a bit challenging unlike other careers considering that it requires strength and bravery, which other fields do not see as important. Despite that, women remain successful in the military, considering that many have increased access to education, an opportunity to achieve their dreams, and higher chances of accessing great careers in the future. However, the military is not for the faint-hearted because women have an increased risk of abuse from colleagues or outsiders. In addition, women may lack family balance since they are away most of the time. While the military may be a dangerous environment for women, it is the perfect place to explore their abilities and serve their countries.

First, women in the military have increased chances of landing great careers if they ever retire from the force. This is because they have acquired the necessary training and conditioning required in high-end jobs such as freelancing detectives, among others. The military field trains individuals physically, emotionally, and psychologically to endure pain and suffering, eventually enabling them to triumph over their tribulations (Karadzhova-Manova, pg.105). Secret government organizations usually employ individuals with such training since they undertake vital missions that involve the country’s protection of secrets. For a woman, it is an advantage considering that they are treated as equals in the force, allowing them to access equal shots at careers as men. If they ever choose to leave the workforce, women can lead influential domestic and international government organizations since they have what it takes to succeed. Because of this, they can thrive in any environment despite the harshness since they have adequate training. Also, the military trains individuals to adhere to a strict schedule which is very attractive to employers considering that they will not have to follow them while working. In short, women in the military can fit in any job category because they are disciplined, thorough, and effective in following rules to their entirety, unlike individuals who have never served in the force. In addition, listing as previously served in the army gives women a comparative advantage because employers are attracted to the virtues taught in the workforce.

Moreover, being a woman in the military allows individuals to access better education since many recruits may have lacked the chance to study further. For instance, recruits to the army often come from humble backgrounds. The main reason for joining the force is to access better education opportunities to improve their family backgrounds (Henderson, pg.50). Because the army offers flexibility on the employees, women can undertake high school diplomas while working simultaneously, which is interesting considering that many people do not always get such chances. As a service to the country, the military offers rewards and benefits to employees, beneficial to their lives and families.

In most cases, women without families can save their money since everything is provided while in service to undertake higher education or put up businesses after leaving the force. Therefore, it lets them achieve their future dreams of becoming better people and improving their lives. Most retired individuals have pursued higher education and lead comfortable lives with their families due to the benefits of being in the force. Being a woman in the military exposes individuals to greater access to education that may not be possible for others; further increasing their opportunities to achieve their future dreams.

Additionally, women can showcase their female skills by joining the combat. This is because men are considered more superior to women in terms of physical strength most of the time. Being one in the army allows women to have an equal shot in the field, considering there is no special treatment for women (Nguyen, pg.15). In short, both men and women in the military receive the same training and intensity, allowing men to view women as equals in the field. Because of this, there is no discrimination against women since all individuals are focused on the same goal of serving their country. Women tend to be underestimated in other fields because both genders may not receive equal training necessary for the job. Employers often focus more on men’s qualifications, but in the case of women, gender alone can dissatisfy the employer since they may believe that women do not have what it takes to lead the workforce. The military, however, allows women to showcase what they are made of, which has to be physical strength and intellectual (Henderson, pg.60). While people may be focusing on physical strength, the force enables women to develop all aspects of their lives, vital for the job. Therefore, in combat, the focus is not on whether men are superior to women but rather how both genders can train to achieve the required aspects for serving the country and protecting their teammates.

However, being a woman in combat can increase the risk of abuse from enemies and colleagues. Although women can train to achieve equal physical strength as men, they may not entirely achieve it considering that heavily built men are quite heavier than women (Nguyen, pg.20). In men, physical strength goes in hand with body size, unlike in women, which tends to work against their strength. Therefore, the heavier the man, the better the physical strength, but bigger women can have difficulty using their physical strength. This biological aspect distinguishes men from women but not to say that men are better built for the military than women. When the army fights the enemies, it can be risky for women since they become targets in such scenarios. For such a case, women could be captured by the enemies and put through abuse, and even though some are prepared, some may be ill-prepared, affecting their mental state later in life (Hemarajarajeswari and Pradip, pg.40). Enemies often use extreme physical abuse, and in most cases, when women are the subjects, they are sexually abused since they are deemed weak to fight the enemy. In today’s society, men also get sexually abused by the enemies but not as often as women’s cases. Unfortunately, enemies do not treat women in the military as men equal, increasing the risk of sexual abuse.

Besides, women in the military can find it challenging to balance family and work. It is challenging to be a mother and a woman in combat, considering that women who have just returned from birthing their children could have low performance due to their attachment to newborns. Biologically, women are nurturers, and although women can do what men can, it is difficult to equate their roles in society (Hemarajarajeswari and Pradip, pg56). It is easier for men to come from paternity leave and focus on their demanding job, unlike women who may have a constant fear of abandoning their families. When combat women get pregnant, they are relieved from work, which significantly affects their teams and their roles. Teamwork is crucial in the military, and having fewer team members can result in the team’s poor performance, exposing the members to danger since there is no one to cover the roles adequately. Because of pregnancy, being a woman in the military can be such a con since it lets down the team and the individual when they cannot balance their responsibilities (Nguyen, pg.20).

In conclusion, the military gives women an equal shot at opportunities to better their lives and families. This is to say there is no discrimination or unequal treatment of women in combat since the force believes in making its employees equal at their jobs. Being a woman in the army allows for increased access to education since the military provides funds for such cases, leading them to achieve their dreams. Besides, they have increased chances of landing great careers since employers find the military background attractive in undertaking their jobs. In short, military training is exhaustive and prepares individuals to thrive in all environments. In addition, women can showcase their skills in combat, especially to disapprove of those saying that women cannot do certain types of work. However, it can be challenging to be a woman in the military, considering that abuse increases, especially if an enemy is involved. This is because they sexually abuse women captives most of the time. Finally, women can find balancing family life and work challenging, which negatively impacts the team. Children who grow up without a mother tend to develop psychological issues; hence, military moms need to balance raising a family and being there for their teams.

Works Cited

Hemarajarajeswari, J., and Pradip Kumar Gupta. “Gender Variance and Deployment of Women in Combat: An Overview.” International Journal of Applied 11.2 (2021): 53-60.

Henderson, Latosha Rena. Is Military Service Good for an Educated Woman?. Diss. Temple University. Libraries, 2020:13-73.

Karadzhova-Manova, Militsa Ivanova. “Woman Integration in the Military Service. The Case of Bulgaria.” International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION. Vol. 24. No. 1.

Nguyen, Thuha. “I’m proud that I’ve been in the army as a woman: A qualitative study of women’s testimonies of their military service in Israel.” (2017):1-26.