Women in the Military

Throughout history women have been fighting for equal rights in the American culture and they have come a long way to receive those rights, but there is one area where women have an issue of getting equal rights at and that is in the military. There have been so many contributions that have been giving women difficulties. 'Women's struggle for a place in the armed forces has been about seeking the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship they have earned the right to the recruiting posters promise and challenge: 'Be All You Can Be'" Major General Jeanne Holm, USAF (Ret.) (Women 4 Mar 1998).

Although the Military standards have been set, equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, or religion, there has been a "glass ceilings" that is in place in the military. According to the Active Duty Military Personnel by Grade/Rank and Gender 1997 and 1995 chart, women are still stopped by a "glass ceiling". For total officers in 1997 only 13.53% were women and total enlisted only 13.71% were women (Glass 4 Mar 1998). Based off of these facts it just goes to show the difficulty that women have had in breaking through these "glass ceiling" standards. Even though women in today’s society they have proven themselves to be successful in a lot of things that many people thought they could not accomplish.

Women have been serving in the military for a long time now. ‘The official history of the United States military begins in the 20th century with the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901. These women worked hard and dedicated to the troops and their country. They cared for the sick and wounded, identified and buried the dead, cooked, sewed, and laundered. Although these women worked diligently and were dedicated, they were considered officially invisible and only earned half rations and earned the name Camp Followers. Tending to the sick was considered woman’s work. Until 1901, they were civilian volunteers or contract workers who had no rank and received no...