In the United States, women weren’t allowed to join the military until the beginning of the twentieth century. This law, however, didn’t stop northerner Deborah Sampson. Like a modern era Mulan, Sampson dressed up as a man in the continental army during the Revolutionary War. Deborah Sampson showed perseverance, bravery, and a disregard for gender norms as she fought alongside unsuspecting men for over two years, earning herself a rightful place in the history books that has yet to be properly represented. Deborah Sampson was born into a poor family in the southeastern part of Massachusetts and worked as an indentured servant for 12 years as she grew up.
During World War II, Woman’s were assembled for duty in the Canadian Armed Forces, for the first time. The armed force was shy of men in war services and administration, which lead the Canadian government to choose and declare on August 13, 1941 to give woman’s the privilege to take an interest in war utility. 50,000 women were enlisted and more than half provided service in the Canadian Army. Most were doled out occupations including customary female work, for example, cooking, clothing and administrative obligations, also woman had pioneer roles in the mechanized and specialized fields. The Canadian Women 's Army Corps (CWAC) performed fundamental administrations, both at home and abroad, that achieved Allied victory.
Deborah Sampson was the first known American woman soldier who disguised herself under her deceased brother’s name in order to fight in the American Revolutionary War. During this time women were not given rights to infantry, but were often nurses in the military. Like many other people who contributed to the society, Deborah Sampson had many failures along the way of her accomplishments. Deborah Sampson came from “ancestors who led the Massachusetts colony” (Furbee 1999: 56). She grew up in a broken home where both her father and mother deserted her to be raised by other relatives.
The Colonel Mary Hallaren, was known as the godmother of the women in the American military. She was a true advocate, before and after her retirement, for women’s rights to serve in the military, especially in the regular army. She believed that women were not the exception in serving. Therefore, she began to alter the society she lived in by proving that women were able to perform more than certain tasks and showed that women were able to serve the the same way as men did.
Women are viewed as fragile and delicate, but strong enough to keep a house clean, kids in line and a happy husband. Women are expected to be stay at home moms and depend on their husbands for everything while having no opinions of their own. However, there are women who have overlooked those expectations and proved that women are capable of doing anything. Deborah Sampson and Elizabeth Van Lew are just two women who have helped break the norms of women’s roles in society. Sampson’s impressive braveness and loyalty to fight for her country against all odds have proved that women are capable to endure harsh horrors.
“The duty of women was to suffer the hard times, support the military, and "maintain their innocence"; in other words, to passively endure while the men performed feats of republican heroism” (pg. 106). In conclusion, women's contributions were seen as a self-evidently justified "free gift" to the nation
Wives, mothers, and daughters, of Patriot soldiers were left to operate businesses and keep up with the duties of farms. Other women followed their soldiers to the battlefield. Though their presence around the army men was oftentimes controversial - they were commonly regarded as nuisances - having women around to clean and cook, along with being companions, benefited the American army. Women that wanted to fill the boots that their husbands left, or step up to the plate on their own, would disguise themselves as men so they could participate in battle. Post-war women’s roles were seemingly regarded the same as they had been before.
By reasearching, we learn how each war along with every women are the reason for the great successes, advancements, and victories that we as descendents, are left with today. The contribution and dedication is incredibly impressive. Not knowing if your life was going to end or not was just one of the many struggles that people had to go through daily. As described, “Everyone, even dignified ladies were involved in its progression” meaning every woman deserves recognition (Garder np). Women Sharing techniques is risky, therefore, many decided to keep them for themselves, or taking them “to the
Since anyone can remember women have not had the same privileges as men. For two women they have made history when they graduated from an elite army ranger school, Kristen Griest and Shaye Haver. Griest and Haver had an ongoing class August fifteen at Fort Benning in Georgia. There was a countless deal of speculations that the standards were lowered for the women. But they were required to complete everything the men were required to complete.
“It was only after that evening that I really started to question whether or not the Canadian Forces, now called the Canadian Armed Forces, had evolved into a welcoming environment for women over the last two decades” (Perron, 309). In the memoir Outstanding in the Field, Sandra Perron fights to be Canada’s first female infantry officer. She battles against her allies, trying to be a woman in a ‘mans world’. The absence of concrete progress in the treatment of women in the military, altered Perron’s naïve view.
Men are often seen or treated better and of more importance than women. Looking at most businesses men are the ones that are the head. Many women are not seen as capable of doing certain jobs or are not allowed to do certain jobs. I heard a statement before that stated that a women cannot run a country because she is more emotional and will make emotional decisions unlike
Transitioning from a killing machine to a civilian can be a difficult task for anyone, and transitioning from a man to a woman can be just as hard, and both can be traumatizing to the mind. Kristen Beck, a Navy SEAL veteran, has gone through both transitions and shares her story in the film Lady Valor. Kristen has gone through the horrifying events of war and has faced the hardships of being transgender, both of which have been tough on Kristen both physically and mentally. From a male war hero to a female veteran, Kristen has gone through several experiences that are all psychologically interesting.
Should men and women compete against each other in sport? In today’s modern society it is accepted that gender equality is aspired to in all areas of life. It is agreed that women should be paid the same wage as men, given the same job opportunities and have the same laws applied to them.
The gender role in military as women categorized and stereotyped by men has never been easy. Military does not require muscular or gender power for leadership in combat or command positions. Some men believe that women in command will weaken the military tradition or military in context. The gender role of “women” and “soldiers” proved to many that is uncontested in World War I and II when women served as auxiliaries. Women have a long history of service in the military.
Broadly speaking women and men have had different roles in the community for a long time. These differences are slowly converging now. However, physical differences do exist. Genetically men are better adapted genetically to perform physical tasks.