Conscription for women

[Mambo19866]

I’ve just read what the head of Army has announced on DM that it’s likely conscription is to return if the conflict with Russia escalates. Reading up on it and asking some people who I believe are in the know they seem to think this might be first war where women will be expected to fight on the front line. I’m going to be honest this terrifies me is anyone else ready to die in a ditch in Russia somewhere? I thought these days were over but apparently even with atom bombs we still have to duke it out the old fashioned way.

It's like we've lost the plot

Considering that conscription isn't even going to happen, I couldn't agree more.

I don’t really have much to add other than to say I’ve been sick with worry about this all morning. It really feels like we are entering dark times. I worry for my children and their future. I don’t want them being dragged into this. And I feel really pissed off at our government for allowing our armed forces to get into such a position where our future freedom is in such a compromised state. They’ve literally sat on their hands and done nothing. We can’t make the equipment the army needs because they’ve shut down all the steel production. It literally makes me feel sick just thinking about it.

I couldn’t agree more. 👏

I'm so frightened for my children, I feel like I want to die. I wish I'd not had them. I can't accept that this is their future

I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up - we have hundreds of young men of fighting age floating up to our shores on a daily basis, millions in the past few years. I'm sure they'll be only too happy to respond to the clarion call of the bugle to help out their adopted country who has so far given them so much and expected nothing in return.

It isn't their future. Men aren't going to be conscripted, let alone women.

It's not, this is headline chasing nonsense. This army chief wants more funding for the army, and statements like this are a way to get publicity and support for that.

Are you currently getting any support for your mental health? If you are, it might be an idea to mention how you're feeling to whoever you normally speak to. If not, then maybe it's worth considering if you need to. You could start with your GP and see if there's anything you can access.

Well sod equality laws then, we are either equal or we aren't. Why should my sons be expected to risk their lives purely because they are men? Maybe this is the test about if we really want to be treated as equal or not.

Um. Equality does not mean that everyone is expected to do exactly the same things as each other - surely you can see that?. It's about fairness and a level playing field. Men are physically taller, stronger than women and can withstand the demands of a war more effectively. They don't have babies. Their bodies are more resilient. That's a fact.

I'm inclined to agree with @MrsDanversGlidesAgain but I still think the hypothetical arguments are important.

@fedupandstuck
Thanks I'm going to have to

Here is another fact for you: there are plenty of women who are part of the army forces and they perform as well as their male counterparts. Conversely, there are plenty of men that are short and weak who would not last a minute at the front.

To discriminate by gender who should be conscripted would be a thing of the past. Conscription into the military should be determined by an individual's physical strength and attributes, rather than solely on gender or age. That way those who are best suited for the physical demands of military service are the ones who are selected, leading to a more effective and capable defence force. Individuals (men and women) who may not have the required attributed for front-line duties can still play vital and effective roles in various non-combat capacities within the military.

There are a few countries that have mandatory conscription for both genders. Interestingly enough, two of them are very close to Russia: Norway (well, in fact it borders with it), and Sweden. It would appear that they are already preparing themselves for a very gloomy future.

I'm sorry, you are really trying to argue that men and women are the same physically? They generally are not. Men are physically stronger. That's why trans women should not be allowed to compete against women in sport.

And you haven't addressed the issue of childbearing. As another poster said, conscripting women onto the front line will result in many pregnancies on the front line.

It would take far to long to decide which few women would outperform male soldiers. Women who choose to join the army are a different thing altogether - it's their choice and they've passed the fitness tests.

Norway doesn't have equal conscription in practice, and although it's called conscription it is essentially voluntary. Further more, the physical standards required by women are lower than for men, apart from the highest scoring level which is the same as the men's level. It is therefore extremely difficult for any woman to get the highest score.

Haven't looked into Sweden yet.

@MyopicBunny so you want equality, but on your terms where you get to choose which equality you want and dismiss any 'not fair' equality? Bananas!

Don't be so dramatic!

I’ll tell my lovely female friend that is currently serving in the forces (infantry) that mumsnet says she can’t go to war, what with her being a weak woman with a vagina and periods because she might get raped.

I’m sure she will be thrilled to give up all those years of training to wash dishes and rear children instead.

No-one is getting actually conscripted here, but women absolutely can serve on the front line for fucks sake.

They wouldn’t have me, I have shit knees.

Nobody is talking about outperforming no-one. This is just a question of determining who is better prepared to fight at the front. And I don't think it would take that long to determine that. There always have been a selection process for conscription. It would just have to be updated.

Ironically, Russia is known to be really backward in matters of gender and sex equality. So everything that we have achieved would be at stake if we go to war against them. And let's pray they don't win it because they would not hesitate to wipe out all the progress we made during the 20th century and send us back to medieval times.

This Mr Frontline bloke sounds like a bit of a player.

This is how I feel too. I feel like there’s no point in life today reading all this.

Yep we've all been taught from school what this means. And told never again. And now we're meant to live with the prospect of it happening to our children? And have no choice or say in it?! Ordered by a government we don't even trust.

Fucking great post!

Never seen such a sexist, naive bunch of bullshit on mumnset for ages!

This is mumnset Pearl clutching in the extreme!

"Over my dead body will my sons go to war"

Tough shit what your kids want eh? All about you!!!!

"You're men posting. We see you"

Oh do Fuck off dear! I've been posting on mumsnet for 20 years! As a woman. You know? Because I am one. Just because I believe that equality goes both ways doesn't mean I'm a man!

I'm hiding this thread now! It's really given me the rage!

Who knew that when scratch deep down, mumnset is as anti-feminist and sexist as they come? And on this board too!!!

The reference to conscription has arisen due to the mutterings from a General about to retire. Read that again! Stop worrying.

It's scaremongering. Seek help for your anxiety.

I'm surprised to see all these posts on the feminism board suddenly reducing women to baby making machines instead of fully functioning humans all of a sudden.