Should Women be allowed to see frontline service?

[Aquitaine]

Hello there.

I recently had a debate with someone about equality and the rights/roles of Women in today's society. I got thinking about it, and although I've always been a suporter of equality, I thought that perhaps if I thought about it on a subject that I'm personally "iffy" about, then maybe I'd understand my opposition's side of the argument much better. So I thought I'd start a thread and ask everyone else for their input/opinions!

So my question is:
Should Women be allowed to see frontline service?

By frontline service, I mean Army-related, like in Infantry squads or Tank groups, fighting on the frontline and on patrols etc. It doesn't neccessarily mean a career/job in the Armed Forces, just the one's that're based on the frontline and in direct combat enviroments etc.

What do you think?
Do you think since we place such importance on Equality nowadays, that both Men and Women should be allowed to see frontline service?
Alternatively, do you think that the battlefield is no place for a Woman?
Or to the contrary, do you believe that restricting Women from frontline service is a breach of their equal rights, and that they should be allowed to see frontline service?

etc, etc.

Please share your thoughts!

 

[Storm]

I don't see why not.

 

[Aquitaine]

Wow Storm you replied FAST! Just like..... erm a storm lol! xD

I just figured out how to add a Poll so please feel free to use it

Can you please explain further on your veiws?

 

[Storm]

I'm bored and the forum is slow.

Anyway, there's not much to elaborate on. Equality is important to me, and I've never seen anything that struck me a good reason not to implement it.

 

[Zephyr]

If she can hold up her part, there is no reason a woman should be denied the right to fight. I obviously would disagree with anybody who would do such, man or woman, but there is no reason to prevent qualified women who wish to fight alongside men from doing so.

 

[Aquitaine]

I see. Well regardless of the "traits" of both sexes, do you think that combining the two together for frontline service would be good/bad?

I think the reason I've started this thread and chosen this topic is because in regards to it, I tend to rely on my own personal opinion - which isn't the best thing to do since it's subjective of course, so I think that by asking other people I can try to identify the "right answer" for it, rather than just laying it on my own opinion - if that makes sense ><

 

[Aquitaine]

Yes! Already 3 people have voted on my Poll >

 

[Storm]

I see. Well regardless of the "traits" of both sexes, do you think that combining the two together for frontline service would be good/bad?

Again, I don't see a downside

 

[Zephyr]

I see. Well regardless of the "traits" of both sexes, do you think that combining the two together for frontline service would be good/bad?

Once again, if a woman is capable of serving alongside a man, she should be given that right. You might as well be asking if it'd be okay for a black soldier to serve alongside a white one.


(they are both murderers)

 

[Father Heathen]

I wholly support equality and all, but one thing that would probably concern me is the potential treatment female POWs might face.

 

[Aquitaine]

Okay then cool, well thanks for commenting, and of course if you've ever got more to say on this topic - then feel free!

 

[Aquitaine]

"You might as well be asking if it'd be okay for a black soldier to serve alongside a white one."

Hmmmmm, well yeah but the only difference I'd say is that in my eyes, there is no difference between a Black man and a White man - in that Race isn't really much of a difference for people.

But Male and Female are two (very) different sexes, not trying to say one is superior/inferior to the other etc. But yeah I think I see what you mean, in that, like how I don't see a difference in Race, you don't see a difference in Sex for the context of the right to fight, right?

 

[Aquitaine]

"I wholly support equality and all, but one thing that would probably concern me is the potential treatment female POWs might face."

True but, couldn't you say that the concern is still there, since Female Civilians can still be captured and face the same fate?

 

[Zephyr]

But Male and Female are two (very) different sexes, not trying to say one is superior/inferior to the other etc. But yeah I think I see what you mean, in that, like how I don't see a difference in Race, you don't see a difference in Sex for the context of the right to fight, right?

For the purpose proposed though, men and women aren't very different. If we were talking about the ability to give birth or **** standing up* then you might have a point, but a woman can carry a gun and shoot people just the same as a man can. When it comes to fighting a modern war, the difference between men and women is no greater than the difference between blacks and whites.

*I know some women that can do this (it's pretty impressive), but I'm speaking in generalities here.

 

[BucephalusBB]

People with breasts van also carry a gun.. That's a sidenote..

O I know so many women who are better capable of being a soldier than me..
Should they be allowed? Ofcourse!

 

[Aquitaine]

"When it comes to fighting a modern war, the difference between men and women is no greater than the difference between blacks and whites."

Ah yeah I see. Yeah especially with such technology and war seeming more "distanced", then there really isn't much of a difference between the Sexes. I dunno where to stand on this issue, personally I think that only one Sex should see it, and not both - regardless of which one (although naturally I'm more inclined to it being the traditional Male force). Although I'm not totally decided on it yet....

 

[Storm]

personally I think that only one Sex should see it, and not both - regardless of which one (although naturally I'm more inclined to it being the traditional Male force). Although I'm not totally decided on it yet....

May I ask why?

 

[Aquitaine]

"May I ask why?"

Yeah sure.

Well...... to which part, that I think only one Sex should see it or that I'm naturally more inclined to it being the "normal" Male force?

If about why only one Sex, I think of it for things like accomodation. Say on Submarines where there's really not much space available, I think that only single-Sex facilities and not dual-Sex ones would use up less space etc.

But not only that, but I think (and yes this may sound daft because war in general gives people severe Psychological affects), but I think it may have a negative Psychological affect on both Sexes having to fight together under immense combat conditions etc. I read a while ago that Israel tried dual-Sex combat groups and in the end cancelled it 'cause basically one Sex was not coping well with the specific sights of the opposite being wounded (but then again, regardless of what sex the wounded is, no-one would cope well seeing someone wounded, right?). Also I read somewhere that it's believed that Men would abandon mission objectives purely to protect the Women - however even then couldn't you say that Soldiers would prioritize the safety of their Comrades first anyway, equal or opposite Sex? So it leaves me confused about it, but my best reason would be for things like in the Submarine example.

If it's for why I'm inclined on the only Male force, well I guess it's socially conditioned into my opinion :S

I hope that helps....

 

[BucephalusBB]

If about why only one Sex, I think of it for things like accomodation. Say on Submarines where there's really not much space available, I think that only single-Sex facilities and not dual-Sex ones would use up less space etc

Why? We all eat, poop and sleep. 16 women, 16 men or 8 women and 8 men eat, poop and sleep about the same amount?
Why would a combination need more space?

 

[Aquitaine]

"Why? We all eat, poop and sleep. 16 women, 16 men or 8 women and 8 men eat, poop and sleep about the same amount?
Why would a combination need more space? "

Well yeah but I'm thinking of like seperate Male and Female Showers etc. But then again you're right, rather than having a larger single Sex facility, you could just have two smaller Dual-Sex ones and still have the same amount of personnel, unless of course there is a major difference in the number of personnel from each Sex - e.g. like a 4:1 ratio of Men to Women etc.