Women in the Army

By
Haval Rasul Mahmood
Supervised by
Assisst. Prof. Dr. Nawzad Hassan
(Academic Debate)
Introduction

The role of women in the military has a long history. Women

have served in the military in many different roles in various
jurisdictions throughout history. Women in many countries
are no longer excluded from some types of combat missions
such as piloting, mechanics, and infantry officer.
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.1 Viking Age

Although still under debate, there is some historic, as well as archaeologic

evidence for female warriors (Shield-maidens) in the Viking Age
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.2 World War I

In addition to working for committees having to do with

education, women worked in all sorts of positions. Many
women went overseas to help soldiers working as nurses or
by filling in the jobs of men.
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.3 Russia

The only nation to deploy female combat troops in

substantial numbers was Russia. From the onset, female
recruits either joined the military in disguise or were tacitly
accepted by their units.
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.4 Others

In Serbia, a few individual women played key military roles

In 1918 Loretta Walsh became the first woman to enlist as a
woman. A 1948 law made women a permanent part of the
military services. In 1976, the first group of women were
admitted into a U.S. military academy. Approximately 16% of
the 2013 West Point class consisted of women. In the 1918
Finnish Civil War, more than 2,000 women fought in the
Women's Red Guards. During the Spanish Civil War, thousands
of women fought
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.5 World War II

 All the major participating nations in World War II enlisted

women. The majority served in nursing and clerical or
support roles. Over 500,000 women had combat roles in
anti-aircraft units in Britain and Germany, as well as front-
line units in the Soviet Union.
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.6 21st century

 Over the last two decades, women have taken on more

and more jobs in the British Army. Since 2018, all Army
roles have been open to them. But even before that, many
female soldiers had been serving on the front line and in
war zones around the world.
2. Historical Background (the UK)
2.6 21st century

Over the last two decades, women have taken on more and more
jobs in the British Army. Since 2018, all Army roles have been open
to them. But even before that, many female soldiers had been
serving on the front line and in war zones around the world.
 By 2016, women could work in 80 per cent of the jobs available to
male soldiers. These included signallers, medics, clerks, dog
handlers, drivers, intelligence analysts and military police.
 The proportion of female military personnel varies
internationally; for example, it is approximately 3% in India, 10%
in the UK, 15% in France, 13% in Sweden, 16% in the US, 15.3% in
Canada, and 27% in South Africa.
3. Women in America

Notably, it was during the Civil War that women began to

serve as nurses on a much larger and more official scale,
approximately 3,000 women.
about 1,000 women disguised themselves as men and fought
on both sides of the Civil War.
3. Women in America

3.1 World War I

Upwards of 25,000 American women between the ages of 21 and
69 served overseas during World War I
3.2 World War II
nearly 350,000 American women served in uniform during World
War II.
They drove vehicles, repaired airplanes, worked in laboratories
and cryptology, served as radio and telephone operators, rigged
parachutes, test-flew planes and
even trained their male counterparts in air combat tactics.
3. Women in America

3.3 The 80s, 90s and Today

1990-1991, more than 40,000 women deployed to combat
zones
More than 300,000 women have served in Iraq and
Afghanistan since 9/11, more than 9,000 have earned
Combat Action Badges and today, women make up 16% of our
nation’s Armed Forces, serving in every branch of the U.S.
military.
Conclusion

 It can be concluded that women started to have very basic

roles in 19th and 20th century in the military field, then
they promoted their participation and responsibilities.
Nowadays they have quite similar presence and
responsibilities in developed countries.
References

 Nagel, R. et. al (2019) Culture, Gender, and Women In The Military: Implications for International
Humanitarian Law Compliance.
 ‘Women in Military’. Available at: https://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/gates/Womin-in-Military.pdf.
Accessed on [12 Dec, 2022]
 ‘Women in Military’. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_military. Accessed on
[12 Dec, 2022]
 DeSim, D. Available at:
https://www.uso.org/stories/3005-over-200-years-of-service-the-history-of-women-in-the-us-military.
Accessed on [12 Dec, 2022]
 Jomana, A. ‘Roles and challenges of women in the military’. Available at:
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/36734383.pdf. Accessed on [12 Dec, 2022]
 ‘how roles have changed for women in the military’. Available at:
https://online.norwich.edu/academic-programs/resources/how-roles-have-changed-for-women-in-the-m
ilitary
. Accessed on [12 Dec, 2022]
 ‘Representation of women in the armed forces’. Available at:
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/representation-of-women-in-the-armed-forces/ Accessed on [12
Dec, 2022]