Women Conscripts

[Squonk]

In my long fight for women liberation, I came upon yet another example of sexism and ignorance: the army. The idea that women should be drafted the same as men is obvious to me. But should we aspire for 1;1 ratio in the army? Or should army be coeducational?

Discuss

 

[Kennigit]

1:1 ratio wouldn't work as their would be too much maternity leave (or rather, too much of an opportunity for maternity leaves). But sure, women can be drafted as well as men.

By which neither should be drafted.

 

[Cull]

In a draft, put them all in the same drafting and let the luck and randomness decide. In direct picking, make it a draft, so that the previous statement kicks into effect.

 

[PeteAtoms]

Make all candidates meet the same PT requirements, the same mental/psychological requirements, and don't give either gender any favors. The best candidates for the military will rise to the challenge, the others will not. To hell with what your dangle is or isn't, if you can perform the duties of a soldier, let 'em be soldiers. Frankly, I don't give a damn. I think a woman has as much right to die for their nation or whatever, as much as a man. But don't play favorites, and do what Viggo did in that movie GI Jane. I think he had the right idea.

EDIT: I also agree with other comments, made. I oppose the draft. The above commentary was regarding voluntary enlistment as regulars and officers.

 

[amadeus]

No draft, ever.

 

[NovaKart]

It is extremely sexist and largely ignored. In countries where women are generally not treated equally to men such as in many middle eastern countries, Egypt for example which has the draft, then I don't find it to be a big injustice.

In countries like Germany, Norway and Finland where women have generally achieved equality I find it extremely sexist that men are still required to do military service. It's true that they can become conscientious objectors and do an alternative service, but the fact that they are asked to do anything and women are not is very sexist.

There is a precedent for conscripting women. In WWII women were required to work in factories to help out the work effort. It wasn't required in America but many women volunteered. Our larger population probably didn't make it necessary.

 

[GoodGame]

In my long fight for women liberation, I came upon yet another example of sexism and ignorance: the army. The idea that women should be drafted the same as men is obvious to me. But should we aspire for 1;1 ratio in the army? Or should army be coeducational?

Discuss

Men currently cannot bear children, so the next generation of uber-soldner is risked if you send women into conflict.

But many desparate battles have called on women to become involved in combat. WW2 Russian women made deadly snipers. A Japanese samurai warlord armed their women with pikes to resist the Meiji reform. Tribal womens used knives to repel camp invaders. Joan d'Arc shamed men into countering the English invasion. "Molly Pitcher" manned cannons during the American revolutionary war. Etc...

In general though, conscription is not preferred to volunteer soldier for various reasons, and women are a sizeable component of modern militaries.

And I'm guessing you've never served in the US military if you're really asking if the army should be coeducational.

 

[warpus]

I am against compulsory draft regardless of sex, except for the time of war

Make all candidates meet the same PT requirements, the same mental/psychological requirements, and don't give either gender any favors. The best candidates for the military will rise to the challenge, the others will not. To hell with what your dangle is or isn't, if you can perform the duties of a soldier, let 'em be soldiers. Frankly, I don't give a damn. I think a woman has as much right to die for their nation or whatever, as much as a man. But don't play favorites, and do what Viggo did in that movie GI Jane. I think he had the right idea.

I agree with this.

 

[Hehehe]

I don't think conscription should be compulsory for women. Maybe I'm just sexist here but I do think that men, in general, make better soldiers. Besides, women are needed on the home front (women can still volunteer, of course)

I'm a male conscript, btw, if that matters here.

 

[Newbunkle]

No draft, ever.

Damn it, I was going to post the exact same thing in exactly the same way. Stop copying me using time travel!

 

[kill fire]

I think that neither gender should be drafted at all.

 

[Cull]

Wait, there an option for no draft?

Then no draft. If the situation was there was a draft, let the random numbers do their work.

 

[stuge]

I don't think conscription should be compulsory for women. Maybe I'm just sexist here but I do think that men, in general, make better soldiers. Besides, women are needed on the home front (women can still volunteer, of course)

I'm a male conscript, btw, if that matters here.

I pretty much agree with this. I know that it's inequal, but I just don't care on this issue.
Here in Finland, women can serve as volunteers and even apply for paratrooper training, if they've got the chops for it.

Besides it would be hugely impractical. Most women, if faced with compulsory service, would probably opt for civil service rather than for armed service. Civil service is basically low-end public jobs, and I think that the system would badly choke trying to provide meaningful tasks to tens of thousands of new applicants each year.

To put it shortly, instituting truly universal conscription would be a costly and impractical way to fix a rather meaningless equality issue. If equality is most important, scrapping the whole conscription system would be better, but that's a whole another can of worms.

Male conscript here too, BTW.

 

[Newbunkle]

A country that would deliberately put its citizens in harm's way doesn't deserve to have them serving it.

 

[GhostWriter16]

In my long fight for women liberation, I came upon yet another example of sexism and ignorance: the army. The idea that women should be drafted the same as men is obvious to me. But should we aspire for 1;1 ratio in the army? Or should army be coeducational?

Discuss

First of all, I don't know...

Single Women maybe. Not ones raising young children.

 

[kill fire]

What about males raising young children?

 

[Truronian]

First of all, I don't know...

Single Women maybe. Not ones raising young children.

What about men raising young children?

Edit: X-post

 

[Zelig]

I am against compulsory draft regardless of sex, except for the time of war

Really?

Because the only time I'd be particularly against being drafted would be if I might have to fight in a war.

 

[GhostWriter16]

What about men raising young children?

Edit: X-post

Well, for whatever reason, its a mother's job to raise children.

However, it is situational as well. For instance, if the whole world was attacking us, it might be smart to draft EVERYONE who can carry a gun, adult or not. If we were drafting people to, say, fight in Vietnam like we did, the need wasn't quite as strong so the people we drafted was plenty.

If we can help it, I'd rather not draft women because they are supposed to, to a certain extent protected. Granted, they should ABSOLUTELY be allowed to fight in the armed forces, but in general I'd prefer not to make them. Especially those raising young children.

 

[PeteAtoms]

Well, for whatever reason, its a mother's job to raise children.

However, it is situational as well. For instance, if the whole world was attacking us, it might be smart to draft EVERYONE who can carry a gun, adult or not. If we were drafting people to, say, fight in Vietnam like we did, the need wasn't quite as strong so the people we drafted was plenty.

If we can help it, I'd rather not draft women because they are supposed to, to a certain extent protected. Granted, they should ABSOLUTELY be allowed to fight in the armed forces, but in general I'd prefer not to make them. Especially those raising young children.

A father's life isn't worth protecting? A mother's life is more important than a father's? Or some other mother's son?