European Womens Role in the Military - Research Paper Example

? Argumentative Research Paper on European Women and their role in War and military Women Gender Study Name: Women in military services were considered licentious and tabooed before World-War-I, but throughout and after it their participation became inevitable and rational requisite. Women in Europe and around the globe despite of being gender discriminated played their memorable roles in prolong and gruesome combats. Yet, political structure, state policies, history, culture, religion, geographical and climatic aspects also play vital role in the formulation of military and making females a part of it. Access of women in military is still an unpopular phenomenon due to their physique and psychological effectiveness. Since the inception, women in military were assigned only clerical, nursing, driving jobs and many at times in the production of ammunition. Hence, women worked in military, but their roles were just to support soldiers passively. However, with immense human loss in World War I, the need to grow troops demanded replacement of gender. Thus, First World War brought with it dramatic alteration in the role of women, instead of protesting and grieving over their loved ones they provided their support by being recruited on their military posts. When men were assigned overseas job, women replaced their vacant spaces in all walks of life from industry to armed forces. Hence, the trend of Victorian and Edwardian era of women was discarded completely. United Kingdom: In current decade, United Kingdom has allowed seventy percent of their female gender to opt for military positions. In 2002, Ministry of defense pronounced these positions for women and they could actively participate in naval crafts and air force. However, frontline fighters post is not open for them due to their physical and psychological structure (Noakes, 10). This dynamic change did not happen rapidly, but in 1998 it was increased to forty percent and later on to a maximum limit of seventy percent till twenty first century (ibid). The reason to ban them from frontline combatant position was their capability to endure, pressure, danger, strength, suitability and numerous psychological factors. However, few exceptional females did fit under the established criteria for such posts, but their quantity was small and unusual. Nevertheless, contribution of women in other European countries like Germany, Finland, Romania, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, France, Netherland and few others has significantly increased and these countries also have assigned women to the front line combat positions as well. The current statistics of recent decade shows that there is an incline in women for the front line combatant position with an approximate of thirteen to seventeen percent. Hence, except United Kingdom, most of the other European countries have increased the number of women admittance in military. In 1996, women on prominent positions of military forces were denounced by the authorities and were transferred to female platoons. Their transference was referred as training and adjustment according to their physique. Hence, they were not allowed to join Royal Armoured corps and Marines, RAF Regiment. Moreover, they could not drive tanks or become mine clearance divers (Sherrow, 44). The question is how UK has proved its Victorian and Edwardian theory of docile women. A research and observation on mixed gender troops and single gender troops was conducted to assess the efficiency and influence of Women in military services along with men. The hypothesis was that women in front line troops entail risk with less or zero efficiency in terms of combat effectiveness. Hence, their presence stimulates a sense of weakness, delicacy, liability towards them and male combatants also lose their efficiency. Therefore, to maintain the level of efficiency in a troop, single gender troop either of male or female works toward the desired target more efficiently (Noakes, 10-11). Moreover, theory of mixed troops entails ‘effectiveness risk issue’ due to women in front line position. The main idea can come from the conservative Royal norms of UK, but even in the current decade the macho male culture still persists in British army. Hence, women in military still face harassment and bullying due to which their percentage is only eight percent in armed forces (ibid,11). Germany: In World War II, Germany even as a conservative country conscripted tens of thousands of women as soldiers and on frontline position. An approximate of 450,000 women, were recruited for the platoon of ‘Whermacth Assistance corps’. However, in current decade all the positions in military and defense are open for women from frontline to marine divers; after 2001 European Union court of Justice ruling against it. In 1949, after the war this was not the case ,instead Germany retrieved back to its conservational role for women and its law (12a) forbid women to be on such positions where they have any association with ammunition (Eulrite, 114). The theory behind the rapid change in constitution after WWII was Hitler’s notion of women and their domestic roles. Since Hitler was not supportive of the notion of equality among genders and his Nazi Government only held a troop of armed women soldiers to shame male combatants (Hacker and Margaret, 263). Moreover, under his rule he tried to encourage the idea of placing women in their maternal roles by rewarding women who gave birth to more babies. The theory behind his logic was to encourage women for a more privileged role of being a mother and raising a quality youth generation. However, the Third Reich period required more individuals to fulfill the positions of military services. Later on, Bundeswehr changed its policy for women in 1975 and women were only recruited as medical assistants. Their uniform was upright since the inception; to prevent them from sexual harassment and unlike other countries its constitutions and policies are still rigid and watertight about harassment issues against women in military. The realization of women’s crucial participation in combats among military servants is significant, which specifies that up till now an approximate of nine percent women are soldiers in Bundeswehr and Bundeswehr aims to increase this ratio by at least fifteen percent. For the same reason army is trying its best to provide its female militants a family-friendly structure, but due to their traditional roles as mothers/wives/daughters, numerous problems still occur. Norway: Norway is the first state which after WWII did not stop women from their participation in military. Since 1984, they have been allowed to opt for any post in military for frontline combatants and in 1995 for submarine. Moreover, it is the first country since 1970, which has been internationally recognized as a preacher of gender equality at local and international levels. However, as a NATO country the ratio of women in military is still only eight percent, which is low among other NATO countries (Skaine, 93). The reason behind this is described as male recruitment policy like all the other countries. Till 2007, only 7.1 percent females became a part of armed forces even though the recruitment policies are said to be biased free. From the optimistic perspective, it is the first country in 1999, to appoint its defense minister and female colonel, but according to Skjelsbaek and Tryggestad recruitment priority for male members is still high(ibid,94). The conscript policy determines that women can become a part of armed force on volunteer bases, but it’s not compulsory for them like male candidates although, these women can serve in infantry, tanks and all other types of airliners. Denmark: In Second World War, Denmark was a buffer point for Germany. Hence, it saw less mass destruction than the other countries. Denmark has always been a significant state for Britain and its residents have always seen themselves amalgamated with UK policies. However, women of Denmark have been contributing their roles in military and war since 1934 and it has a total inclusion policy inaugurated from 1988. They have been designated on the posts of frontline soldiers and have been deployed on tanks in War against Serbs of Bosnia. In 1985 era their role has been authentically confirmed via a trail assessment, which proved that Danish women are equally eligible and efficient as their male counter parts in armed forces (Goldstein, 85). Yet, due to their physical structure they were unable to fit for the criteria of Special Operations Forces. France: After First World War, literacy rate among women in France increased to a vivid rate and by Second World War it saw its peak. Women became an active part of military services even in times of war and in peace since 1952; due to their services in medical department (Cook, 203). Hence, their contribution saw no end and till date they have been actively involved in French military. Since 2002, France has been adapting a pro-women policy for military posts. Previously, France has had an acute policy for frontline posts and integral submarine commando positions for women. Yet, it is still not compulsory for women unlike men. However, their participation that is one-fifth, is more than any other military of the world. Although, the infantry department openings are for women, but due to stern policies and complex trials women have been observed to avoid this position willfully. That is why, only 1.7 percent of the infantry is occupied by women, which is a very small amount. Even in the past wars France has used its female gender more in spying or intelligence missions rather than in direct combat. Yet, since 1983 they were allowed to opt for the gendarmerie corps positions and the total strength of female force in this department is 8.55%. Alongside it has also made sure not to assign women on such hostile posts where hostility is prolonged. Discrimination in pay, service, facilities and promotions cannot be observed as women need to pass the same effectiveness test for promotion like their male counterparts. However, the most ruthless responsibilities are still refrained from them. Since 1983, French Air force has been more active in recruiting female pilots and encourages them to opt for the post of Air Base Commander. Top of Form Russia: Russia, the most famous land for controversies and politics has had an active and more strength full participation of women comparatively from other countries. In 1917, its female population in military was five thousand, but after Bolshevik revolution the positions were refrained from them. Their regiment was formed just to shame male soldiers psychologically; to fight for their country and it was called off as soon as the objective was achieved. However, female enthusiast civil servants did not give up and some of them also took their weapons during civil war period (Hacker and Margaret, 209). Even at war time, female intelligence officers were seen via doubtful perspectives. In 1917, Maria Bochkareva who worked in 25th Reserve Battalion army made first female battalion of two thousand women and fought with it against German troops. However, she faced defeat and her troop was ruined. She faced disappointment and was inconsolable, but the universal fact she realized was that all women are not meant to be soldiers due to their intrinsic physical and psychological structure (Farmborough, 305). Nevertheless, the above stated statement took a swift turn and in World War II, women faced enemy with more aggression than their male counterparts. Nina Alexeyevna Lobkovskaya and Ukrainian Lyudmila Pavlichenko were the best female Russian snipers of all times, who killed an approximate of three hundred foes. Russian female soldiers made a name of themselves in ground forces and aviation during the Second World War. In 2002, their strength was ten percent of the total army that is 988,100, but in 2011 it has declined to thirty thousand. Up recently, women have chiefly served in remedial units of Russian army. General Yelena Knyazeva, in her recent statement advocated women to refrain from opting for military career. She advised women to bring up such a new generation who is apt for a strong defense force. She strongly recommended women to produce and nurture productive offspring for the nation. This is due to the fact that in 2013, only eleven thousand female militants were left on contract bases ("RIA NOVOSTI"). Conclusion: Women excluded from such frontline and grueling positions is not always discrimination, it’s about the code of conduct of army, which is always demanding the best and toughest in times of war. Army requires unionism, strength, skills, time and persistence, which is not always possible for a women due to her natural role as mother, daughter, wife, sister and so on. Moreover, it was also condemned due psychological impact of opposite gender, which would leave the troop distracted and they would indulge more in personal relationships. Women could also face physical and psychological sexual harassment. However exceptional cases have occurred, but the chances are rare, which leaves military officials with a choice of recruiting male members for the sake of persistent participation. Works Cited: Top of Form Cook, Bernard A. Women and War: A Historical Encyclopedia from Antiquity to the Present. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.: ABC-Clio, 2006. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Noakes, Lucy. Women in the British Army: War and the Gentle Sex, 1907-1948. London: Routledge, 2006. Print. Top of Form Sherrow, Victoria. Women in the Military. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. Print. Top of Form Eulriet, Ire?ne. Women and the Military in Europe: Comparing Public Cultures. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. Print. Top of Form Farmborough, Florence. With the Armies of the Tsar: A Nurse at the Russian Front, 1914-18. New York: Stein and Day, 1975. Print. Bottom of Form Hacker, Barton C, and Margaret Vining. A Companion to Women's Military History. Leiden [Netherlands: Brill, 2012. Print. Top of Form Skaine, Rosemarie. Women in Combat: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2011. Print. Top of Form Goldstein, Joshua S. War and Gender: How Gender Shapes the War System and Vice Versa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. "Women Should Serve Family Says Russia's only female General." RIA NOVOSTI  (3/7/ 2013), n. pag. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More