US law change for female combat troops.

[CardiffUniversityNetballTeam]

[http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21172033]

What are people's thoughts on this?

How do MNers feel about women in frontline combat?

It's not something I would want to do but I don't see why women who want to try should be stopped.

Think it's great.

I saw a commercial yesterday for the local news they were going to talk to mothers, to see how they felt about their daughters being sent to the front lines

I'm glad the US is addressing this bit of sexism but the more disgusting bit that front line or not our female soldiers are going over seas and being raped and sexually assaulted by our male soldiers at an appalling rate where it is almost seen as a forgone conclusion.

Umm feministefatale, where on earth do you get that bit of info?

since when did the US have a ban on women in combat anyway?

Is that really true Fatale? I've not heard anywhere that such a thing is commonplace. I didn't think male soldiers were more likely to be rapists than your average man on the street?

I think it said on the news early Mitchy that a ban had been in place since 1994. However the report didn't add much detail. For that matter UK female soldiers aren't permitted to apply for combat roles and aren't likely to be allowed to in the future.

Um the pentagon, they seem like a pretty reliable source,

www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2012/0119/Pentagon-report-Sexual-assault-in-the-military-up-dramatically

It's been all over the news for the past few years, before that that women were being sexually assaulted in military academies was also making headlines. Some women were saying they were being told to be on birth control because they could almost expect to be sexually abused.

There is no sex offender registry for men who abuse in the army, a very tiny amount of men accused are dealt with.

Do you not remember LIz Trotters words of wisdom to female soldiers? About them whining that they are getting "raped too much?"

The rate of violent sexual crime has increased 64 percent since 2006 according to the US Army report, which noted that ?rape, sexual assault, and forcible sodomy were the most frequent violent sex crimes committed in 2011.?

While women comprise 14 percent of the Army ranks, they account for 95 percent of all sex crime victims.

Are you based in the States Fatale? That might be why you are more aware of this than we are. I don't think it's had as much coverage over here. If it's accurate then it's truly appalling.

Weird, why did they impose the ban in the first place, around the same time various Northern European states were opening up their combat units to women?

I wish I'd paid more attention to that section of the report now Mitchy. I was too busy getting worked up into a rage over a British ex army general saying women should never be allowed to fight on the front line as those roles are only for the "strongest and bravest." WTAF!

Yes I am now cardiff. Sorry i was responding to Dallas before who I assumed (because of her name) was American and so should have heard the news furor around the scandals.

dunno mitchy, Women can't carry back packs or some such

haha I thought the argument was usually that we are not as hormonal as men and that the equipment is designed for the average male frame or something

almost all countries have deployed women in front line roles at some time or other in history though

I read an article about rape in the US military only yesterday and I'm here in the UK - it's shameful that women in theatre are more at risk of harm from their comrades than from the enemy.

An Air Force general recently described rape as a cancer in the AF.

Letting women participate in front line combat means nothing when they fight such an enormous battle in training camps and on base. US News article

Didn't a woman give birth at the frontlines recently? Didn't realise she was pg and actually gave birth? I haven't dreamt that have I? Off to google....

How fucking hard is that? Like you don't mess with that woman ever.

feministefatale: how do the number of rapes/sexual assaults (convicted/reported/estimated true figure) for serving female personnel compare to rates for similar age group civilians?

It's worth noting that there already plenty of females (both UK and US military) who serve in the front line, go into harm's way and participate in combat. It is specifically infantry and artillery which are being opened up in US. In UK, the bar for infantry, artillery, tankies and (I think) submariners are the ones which remain.

It's a complete failure of leadership -- this is a serious military discipline issue.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19657646

The USAF estimates 1 in 5 female recruits will be sexually abused. 800 rapes were reported last year. It was admitted that this is probably a vast under-reporting and that the actual number of rapes was much higher.

oh and look at this story. Her dad is upset by how it affected him...

Aw bless him

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2207607/Fathers-fury-soldier-daughter-Lynette-Pearce-gave-birth-Afghanistan-frontline.html

True about the Red Army having women soldiers. The Nazis were stunned.

It sounds like the setup is probably much more difficult to report compared to civilian rapes too, and much more difficult to get an accurate number of how many women are abused. And much more likely to be swept under the carpet

i would think with modern tech and lightweight materials the armed forces could seriously reduce any equipment weight issues.

And its my understanding that women have been flying fighter jets and other aircraft for a while now.

The numbers pf women sexually assaulted in the US military is horrifying. Its been in the news a lot over here. And while the military has generally been at the forefront of integration, it really highlights how women are perceived to be some how less than men that the perpetrators get off so easily.