It’s Nontraditional, So Women Won’t Do It?

I heard a pretty interesting story on NPR’s All Things Considered yesterday. It was about military enlistment numbers.  Increasingly, males are having a harder time getting into the military.  Why? They simply don’t qualify.  Arrest records, dropping out of school, or simply being overweight keep young men from being able to join.  But recruiters report fewer issues with female applicants.  And as the military accepts more women into their ranks, it makes the recent decision to allow women into combat even more appropriate.

But as might be expected, not all men like this.  Some complain that fitness standards will be watered down to allow women to pass. Never mind that 20% of men fail as well. One very high-ranking man, Bernard Rostker, doesn’t think they’ll come and join in droves, though.  His reasoning is simple: “forcing” women into combat roles is nontraditional, and the work is really hard. Now, I don’t know Mr. Rostker, but I’m going to make a huge assumption and say that he’s never been pregnant (nor have I, for that matter).  But if a woman can carry and give birth to a child, I think she can handle “hard work”. Really, how insulting can one be?  To suggest that women won’t accept a job because it’s not what they typically do and it’s hard is so incredibly offensive. Historically, women have stepped into these roles with no problem—just look at WW II.  The only reason they left those jobs was because the men were back and because the “real” workforce had returned—it was time for the women to get back into the kitchen.

Let’s be clear—I am a Quaker and inherently oppose war and the preparation for it.  However, I am also a feminist, and will be damned if some man is going to tell my gender what they can or cannot do, and whether or not we’ll take a job because it requires hard work.  Mr. Rostker (and all your good old boys who agree with you), the world is changing. Women can and do want to work—and you can join us or get out of the way.