Friday, October 07, 2011

Week 6: Women in Combat

                Australian women will soon be able to be in front-line combat along with men. On Tuesday Australian government will gradually phase the change into the military. Women will be allowed to serve as Navy ordinance disposal divers, airfield and ground defense guards, infantry, artillery and armored units. In efforts for gender equality in male dominated positions the Australian government said that they will judge women as they judge men for the military – based on if the ability to do the job. There are not many countries in the world that allow women in combat with no restrictions. These countries are Canada, Germany, South Korea, France, Spain, New Zealand, Denmark and Israel. Within the next five years Australia will be soon to follow. Typically Australia had the same policy as the United States for their women.  It is very rare that a woman will be allowed to serve in combat units but women do when it is not culturally acceptable for men to interact with local women.
                I feel that this will be great for women who want to serve in combat positions. The United States has gradually integrated women inside of combat positions but I’m not quite sure if they will ever officially allow women to do so. Women who want to serve their country in combat should be able to if they are fit and able to fulfill the position they want. Though personally I wouldn’t it is great for these women who dream of this opportunity.  Since Australia is changing their policy maybe the United States will be soon to follow as well since the world and mindsets are changing. I guess the Australian government is going to do this over a span of five years to get the men “used” to this idea that women will soon be serving with them. It would be kind of awkward to just change the policy and “throw it upon them” but at the same time… why not?
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/27/world/asia/australia-women-combat/index.html

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