Women Serving On the Front Line of Battlefield - Research Paper Example

Task Women Serving On the Front Line of Battlefield It is becoming progressively more common to find women fighting at the front of the battlefields due to the increased sensitivity within the military, and the need to attain gender equality. Several jobs are currently available to women who serve nearer to the front line. This is based on the limited barriers that currently limit the presence and roles of women in the field. In as much as women should be accorded similar roles in the military, as their male counterparts, it is necessary to acknowledge their limitations that significantly depart from the roles of men. Summary and explanation of issue Women have begun playing an increasingly fundamental role on especially on the frontline during battles. It is fundamental to acknowledge that the need to attain gender parity in Pentagon has led to the enacting of laws that exalt the position of women working in the military sections. Previously, American women were barred from participating in direct combat roles. However, the changes in the nature and characteristics of the war have made the soldiers to be constantly in war. This means that women are always forced to participate in direct combat regardless of the ensuing challenges. This has made pentagon to advocate for additional roles for women in the frontline of the battles. For example, congress has been recommending the introduction of close to 14,000 jobs for women serving in the frontline during battleground. According to Gass & John (4) “persuasion is powerful, and often positive social force”. Consequently, the persons involved in the issue incorporate the women soldiers who have been voicing their concerns because they are exposed to dangerous conditions. However, a significant proportion of the women believe that they should be exposed to circumstances that build their career, and allow them to succeed in the military. The female soldiers have been using several techniques to advance their agenda. For example, they have employed the bait technique where leading female soldiers invite other soldiers to specific occurrences. However, this rarely proceeds to the nibble stage because the strategies adopted correspond to “word of mouth” (Gass & John 5). The women also communicate amongst themselves with the intention of voicing their concerns that would ultimately be transferred to their leaders. These leaders would eventually their concerns to congress with the intention of contributing to the policy process. It is equally fundamental to acknowledge that the women have been advancing to the front of the battle lines by themselves to assert their authority. This has been vital to their empowerment and progress. The pentagon is equally a major stakeholder because it advises the congress concerning fundamental issues affecting women fighting at the front line in the battlefields. According to Gass & John (5) these are opinion leaders are influential who shape information and ideas through persuasion. It is evident that the pentagon initiates the policies formulated by congress. Consequently, it advertises the available positions within the military and allocates several roles. It is evident that the strategies that the entity has used to advance its persuasion process include formal announcements, advertisements and holding meetings with the women working in the military. The Pentagon plays a neutral position in the entire occasion because it attempts to attain the highest degree of professionalism. Furthermore, it represents the needs of several persons who are not necessarily women in the front line. This means that it has to be extremely balanced in its approach. The final category incorporates congress that formulates laws determining whether women should participate in battles at the front line. According to Gass & John (23) purse persuasion seems to apply to the congress because it assumes a neutral position by allowing various personnel to voice their concerns. However, it ultimately represents the needs of the entire US citizenry. Analysis of strategies by advocates Chapter 3 and 4 highlight the fundamental communication processes that could be embraced by a particular group with the intention of passing across ideologies. According to Gass & John (101), the social judgment theory seems to highlight the strategies of advocates. It seems that pentagon advocates for increased presence of women in the frontline especially after the wars in Iraq together with Afghanistan. This conforms to latitude of acceptance indicating that the organization finds this tolerable since it will boost efficiency and productivity. The proportion of women who were dying was quite high making it difficult to attaining the targets. Paneta, who is the defense secretary, endorsed the participation of women in the front line using undeviating quotations. She indicated “It's clear to all of us that women are contributing in unprecedented ways to the military's mission of defending the nation," (Fishel 1). This means that Pentagon has moved from its initial position highlighting the need to keep women from the frontline to the insistence that such a position will boost their skills. This means that the pentagon has assumed a double-sided persuasion strategy that seems to endorse both sides of the argument. It had previously accepted that women should play subsidiary roles. However, this has changed with the increasing complexities characterizing the military. Fishel 1 affirms “in recent years the necessities of war propelled women into jobs as medics, military police and intelligence officers that were sometimes attached -- but not formally assigned -- to units on the front lines” (Fishel 1).  The congress has also employed several communication strategies to highlight its ideologies concerning the presence of women at the frontline of the battleground. For example, it has summoned various leaders within the military to present their position for scrutiny by the government agencies. However, it has been neutral consequently highlighting latitude of non-commitment (Gass & John 101). Several motions have been passed with the intention of highlighting the changing time in the military, and the strategies that should be adopted. This means that congress has assumed official and direct approaches to communication. This also means that the organization focuses on the broader ideals within the American society. An additional category entails the women soldiers who have served in the battlefield allowing them to voice several concerns that are likely to represent the entire group. Consequently, it is evident that their communication process is representative in nature, and tends to focus on personifying the entire group. For example, it is stated in Buffalo News that, “Duckworth, an Army veteran, lost both legs and part of an arm from injuries she suffered as a helicopter pilot while fighting in Iraq. She chose to fly because it was one of the few combat jobs open to women. Duckworth showed her mettle on the battlefield and, after an ugly battle against tea party favorite Joe Walsh, is holding her own in Congress” (The Buffalo News 1). Evaluating the effectiveness of persuasion The evaluation process will focus on three distinct criteria as suggested by chapter 4 and ethical theories in chapter 16 within the book. It is necessary to acknowledge the validity of the entire process. For example, it seems that congress and the pentagon have the power to translate information to various parties using official channels. These include government gazettes, summons, hearings and publications. This makes the persuasion process believable. Additionally, it seems that the two bodies conform to agreements and laws. This means that they conform to the constituents of contract theory. However, the Army personnel depend on their creativity, and access to relevant authorities to transfer information. This reduced the validity. The authority to accept and transmit information is crucial. Again, congress and the pentagon seem to have such power, unlike individual soldiers. This means that the women soldiers only respond to policy rather than influence it. This means that collectivism and Communication Accommodation Theory have formulated an appropriate balance that would seem to generate a suitable and balanced approach (Gass & John 154). For example, the attitude of women seems to focus on their collective well-being rather than individual success. Works Cited Gass, Robert H, and John S. Seiter. Persuasion, Social Influence, and Compliance Gaining. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2011. Print The Buffalo News. Lifting ban on women in combat should end ‘brass ceiling’. Web. 29th January 2012 Fox News.com. Military leaders lift ban on women in combat roles. January 24, 2013. Web. 29th January 2012 Read More