Women at War: Gender Issues of Americans in CombatThe Persian Gulf War changed the face of combat. It brought women’s military roles into the spotlight, in large part via the mass media, and showed that many women performed combat roles similar to those of men during the conflict. The war was thus an impetus for changes in laws that had prevented women from serving in combat assignments. In past centuries, because it was not culturally acceptable for women to serve in combat, surprising numbers joined secretly under assumed male names. After defining exactly what is meant by “war” and “combat,” this work presents historical and present-day views of the involvement of women in the military. The impact of regulations on women in combat is analyzed, as is the role of the American public in the controversy. Female combat is put into context with sociological theory; also discussed are readiness, cohesion, ability, sexuality, equal opportunity and family issues. |
Contents
1 | |
5 | |
7 | |
Introduction | 9 |
1 What Is War? | 17 |
2 What Is Combat? | 25 |
The Historical View | 45 |
The Contemporary Scene | 61 |
9 Cohesion | 167 |
10 Ability | 173 |
11 Sexual Issues | 187 |
12 Equal Opportunity | 197 |
13 Family | 209 |
14 Toward Strength and Equality | 223 |
Appendices | 227 |
Notes | 235 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Academy According agreed Air Force aircraft allowed American Armed Services Army asked assigned aviation believes cadets CAPT career Chapter Chief civilian closed Code command Commission Committee concern Congress Court definition Department di›erent direct draft duty enemy engage equal ethics exclusion February female field Finch gender ground combat Gulf hearings History House Ibid Institute interview involved issue January June letter male March Marine Corps Mary memorandum military mission Naval Navy notes nurses o‡cer Operations opportunity percent Persian person Personnel Pfluke physical pilot Point positions Post problems question readiness reason remain repeal Report Research response restricted risk roles Rule says Secretary of Defense Segal served sexual ships society soldiers Table tion units Washington West woman Women in Combat World York