Should Women Be Allowed In Combat Essay

1412 Words6 Pages

A woman being in combat or on enemy lines has been a controversial issue for decades. It has been debated that women do not compare to men when it comes to physical stature. “The army’s own opinion surveys prior to 2001 consistently reported 85% to 90% of enlisted women oppose ‘being assigned to combat units on the same basis as men”’ (Schlafly 20). Women prefer to be with only women, while men prefer to fight with other men. Women are currently allowed to serve in combat, but not in positions such as infantry. Many people are criticizing whether women can handle being on enemy lines while others want to open those positions up to women. Women should not be allowed in combat because they are not as physically capable as a man, menstruation …show more content…

In the military, having men and women live in close proximity gives them the chance to have sexual relations with each other. Women in combat do not have time to remember to take birth control at the same time everyday. Women need to be focused on the mission at hand while in combat. There is also a problem with men and women being so close together. Sexual harassment is an ongoing issue in any type of employment, yet with the added vulnerability would be a constant issue with things such as harassment, taunting, sexual advance, or other similar instances. Men or women force themselves onto each other is a common occurrence while away at war. When this happens, risk of pregnancy occurs. Yes there are many contraceptives that women could take to prevent pregnancy. Women in combat are not thinking about taking their contraceptives and they are not worrying about risk of pregnancy. More than likely the only thought running through their mind is to focus on war and save lives. However, some women might not know they are pregnant when in combat. Some women do not experience symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, hunger, frequent restroom breaks, etc. So having a woman in combat not knowing she is pregnant is an issue. A woman that is pregnant puts the whole unit at risk during combat. A woman who is pregnant will feel fatigue and irritable, and that woman is not only putting herself at risk but the unborn child as