Politics September 19, 2016
“About face, men!” … And women? When it comes to the U.S., women’s role in the armed forces has been, and still is, controversial. In several countries, however, women aren’t just allowed to serve in the military – they’re required to! With some help from Danielle DeCourcey at ATTN, here are three places in the world with mandatory military service for men and women – and why you should care in the first place!
When it comes to countries that require both men and women to serve, Israel stands out as the trendsetter. Its policy of mandatory military service for both genders is long-standing, though current and expectant mothers as well as women with certain religious beliefs are exempt. While it has become a common aspect of society for women to serve in the military, they have not always received equal power or recognition. This reportedly changed after Alice Miller sued the Israeli Defense Army in 1994 for refusing to let her become a pilot. Now, women may serve in all combat positions.
For Norway, the issue of gender equality is nothing new. Besides boasting a parliament that is 40 percent female, Norway also requires 40 percent of board members in public companies to be women. As part of this promotion of gender equality, Norway parliament voted to draft women in 2013. It is the first European country to do so. Beginning this summer, women between the ages of 19 and 44 must complete 19 months of service in the military, just like the their male counterparts.
North Korea should be in the news for more reasons than nuclear testings and Kim Jong. Beginning in 2015, North Korea required women to serve in the military from the time they graduate high school until age 23. This time served is reportedly less than the 10 years of service that men must complete. Because of North Korea’s typically secretive government, not much is known about the military life in this part of the world.
When you think of “Bolivia,” you might reflect on your high school Spanish or Geography classes. When it comes to the military, though, Bolivia has two unique facets. First, when military volunteers run low, both men and women between the ages of 18 and 49 can be conscripted. Another Jeopardy-worthy fact? In 2015, Bolivia appointed its first female Army general – Gina Reque Teran – who is also the first woman to lead troops in Latin America.
Why Should You Care?
In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that women in the United States would be exempt from the draft because women could not fight on the front lines. After the Pentagon announced in December that it would be allowing women to service in all military positions, more men and women – ranging from military officials to senators – have promoted adding women to the drafting process. In fact, in June of 2016, the Senate passed a bill stating that women born after January 1, 2018 must sign up for the draft. If they don’t, they could lose access to a variety of federal aids.
But don’t picture your future daughter strapping on a pair of combat boots just yet. Although the Senate approved a bill that included this conscription amendment, the House did not. Instead, it questioned whether the draft should still exist at all, since drafting hasn’t been used since the Vietnam War and many qualified volunteers already compose the U.S. armed forces today. The House even passed a measure that intends to block any changes from being made to the present drafting requirements, which only affect men between the age of 18 and 25.
While the draft itself may seem dead, the U.S. controversy over female conscription is still very alive. On one side, people like General Robert B. Neller, the commandant of the Marine Corps, argue that, on the basis of equality, everyone who’s physically able should participate in the draft. On other other side, many conservatives worry over yet another blurring of gender lines. What can countries who already draft men and women teach us about the drafting controversy in America today?
Perhaps the biggest lesson is that, with time, any routine can become an expected part of today’s culture. As Dan Arbell, American University professor and former official at Jerusalem’s Ministry of Foreign affairs, explains, in Israel, drafting women has become so socially accepted that “people don’t give it a second thought.”
Will the U.S. receive the same fate? Only time – and progress on the Senate and House bills – will tell.
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