Women in the Military: Is It Truly a Success for Feminism?

For many years, the thought of women enlisting in our United States military was absurd. Now, in 2018, every effort is made in the name of feminism to point out the fact that there are many females currently serving. Feminists everywhere rejoiced when all five branches gave "the weaker sex" their fair shot. But was this really a total win for us ladies?

Currently, the branches' websites are proud to display high physical standards for men and women alike. However, in my research I noticed a disturbing pattern in their physical fitness test (PFT or equivalent) requirements. Allow me to show you some examples:

• U.S.M.C. PFT Requirements for Men:
  
  

  Age	Pull-Ups	Crunches	3-Mile Run
  17-26	3	50	28:00
  27-39	3	45	29:00
  40-45	3	45	30:00
  46	3	40	33:00

  U.S.M.C. PFT Requirements for Women:
  

  Age	Flexed-Arm Hang	Crunches	3-Mile Run
  17-26	15 Seconds	50	31:00
  27-39	15 Seconds	45	32:00
  40-45	15 Seconds	45	33:00
  46	15 Seconds	40	36:00

• U.S.N. PRT Charts For Males (ages 20-24 chosen for example purposes):

  	Points	Curl-ups	Push-ups	1.5-mile run
  	100	105	87	8:30
  	90	98	81	9:15
  	75	87	71	10:30
  	60	58	47	12:00
  	50	50	42	13:15
  	45	46	37	13:30

  
  U.S.N. PRT Charts For Females (ages 20-24 chosen for example purposes):

  	Points	Curl-ups	Push-ups	1.5-mile run
  	100	105	48	9:47
  	90	98	44	11:30
  	75	87	39	13:15
  	60	58	21	14:15
  	50	50	17	15:15
  	45	46	16	15:30

  
  

If you do some research of your own, you can see how the pattern continues in each of the other three branches. In each test, the women's requirements are significantly lower than its male counterpart's for at least one portion of that administrated. Simply put, the creators thought they were helping us. While I do admire them for that, I refuse to accept this as final. I am sure whoever wrote this out must have smiled to himself, saying, "Now the women will be happy. We devised a plan to include them!" However, here I am, a woman, not happy. Confused? Let me explain.

First things first. We did not simply want to join the military. We wanted to join the military because we are able, as equal beings. Nothing in the charts I showed you leads me to believe that they regard us as equals. What I see instead is men still believing that women cannot keep up, therefore in order to make "progress" by allowing us to enlist, they lower the standards for us so that "we are able" to complete the required activities. In some cases, the activities themselves actually differ between men's and women's tests. What we want is to be regarded as able. Able to serve alongside our brothers. Able to keep up with the boys. Able to do what is needed of us. Until the requirements become the universal (regardless of gender), we are not truly viewed as completely able.

Additionally, lowering their standards for the ladies is not helping anyone. A service member should be fully adequate for his or her job. It is war. It is not something one can simply limp through; if a soldier goes to battle equipped enough "for a girl", she is not ready, and that may have devastating consequences. Our men and women in the service are fierce warriors. I would expect nothing less for our country put out to war. But if the females truly cannot keep up with the males, why are we sending them into a career where they are destined to fail? Is this really how the male population regards the rest of us? A warrior should be tough, physically and mentally. If a woman cannot make the cut, do her and everyone else involved a favor and send her home! Do not let in an incapable person in the name of feminism or equality. Likewise, if a man cannot keep up, send him home also! Only the women (and men) who showcase the true mind and body of a soldier should pass. If our nation settles for anything less, they are endangering the lives of all those who fight together. Furthermore, this does not show feminism in the least; rather, it still screams the message that women are incapable.

Ladies and gentlemen, why do we settle? Why do we view this as an acceptable way of living, not to mention a "win"? Only when we create universal standards can we truly embrace total equality and the success of our efforts. Years of fighting for our rights cannot all go to waste. Together, we can revolutionize the way women are viewed in our "anything to be included" culture. Together, we can teach our world to question the status quo. Together, we can forever make a difference, and one day celebrate our true success.

And we stand, hand in hand, as one.