This is an unpopular opinion, but I don’t believe women should be in the military. It was commendable of the women who fought to achieve this, demonstrating that women can excel in any field they set their minds to.
However, consider the current state of the world. Why would you want to fight for a country that barely recognizes your humanity? All men see women as mere birthing machines. Then, you’ll argue, “Well, that’s why I wanted to be better and more than that,” even if you trained rigorously. But one mistake, and these men will start clawing at you, blaming your “biology” at the end of the day. It’s not a safe path for women, even with feminist support. Just look at the number of rape / sexual assault/harassment cases that go unreported due to rank. You’re not safe in the military, no matter who tries to tell you otherwise.
Pfc. LaVena Lynn Johnson (2005) - 19-year-old U.S. Army Private First Class found dead in a contractor’s tent in Balad, Iraq, on July 19, 2005. Though the Army ruled her death a suicide, her family argues she was raped and murdered, citing evidence of a broken nose, chemical burns, and injuries inconsistent with the official report.
Sgt. Sarah Roque (2024, Fort Leonard Wood) - A 23-year-old sergeant found dead in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Spc. Wooster Rancy was charged with murder.
Pfc. Katia Duenas-Aguilar (2024, Fort Campbell) - A 25-year-old PFC found dead in her residence off-post from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Ana Basaldua Ruiz (2023, Fort Hood) - A 20-year-old soldier found dead at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), Texas, in an apparent suicide, with family reporting she experienced sexual harassment.
Vanessa Guillén (2020) - A 20-year-old soldier murdered at Fort Hood after reporting sexual harassment. Her death triggered major military investigations into sexual assault and harassment policies.
In war, it’s even worse. Your country and even the country you were fighting against harm women and children. They rape these women, beat them, and torture them, and these women are usually civilians. Imagine what these men would do to an opposing female soldier. If you think this doesn’t happen, look up “Anush Apetyan” (trigger warning: rape, disfigurement).
We all know about the comfort women.
What American soldiers did to an 14-year-old Iraqi girl (trigger warning: gang rape, mass murder) is sickening. It’s appalling that these women put themselves in danger for a country that takes away their rights and openly allows people to say, “Repeal the 19th Amendment.” As a woman, is that what you want to fight for? If so, good luck.
It’s an opinion but all I can say is be safe.
