In history, women have been associated with household activities. They lacked an opportunity to participate in sporting activities despite their potential and willingness. However, time has changed to an era where women actively participate in sports. They perform well and receive appreciation from all corners of the world. Although they are not fully appreciated in some regions, they have received support from above half of the communities in the world. Similar to sporting activities, women did not actively participate in careers that involve a significant physical component such as the military and the fire department. An analysis of women’s careers in the U.S army will outline the development of women in sporting activities as well as careers involving significant physical components.
Women in the U.S Army
America is termed as one of the countries that appreciate women in a significant way. Americans acknowledge the positive efforts of women in society to the extent of offering them very sensitive positions in public service. In sporting activities, American women have not been left behind. They have come from the error of discrimination to a place where they are allowed and voluntarily participate in sporting activities. The U.S army is one of the most recognized institutions in the world. It is formed by men and women who sacrifice their happiness to serve. In the past, a military career was classified as a male-dominated career ( Oppel, 2015) . Nevertheless, the U.S army has numerous women working both in combat support and combat activities. Before the First World War, the U.S army did not have women in combat. The selected few served as nurses to help in medical reception in the barracks. The female nurses did not take military training. Before the Second World War, women played a role as prostitutes who followed army contingent. It portrayed women as immoral beings who cannot support their lives in a genuine way of living. During wars, women served as nurses in a voluntary capacity. Others worked as clerks, but never attended war fronts.
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The Second World War dramatically changed the role of women in combat. They were recruited to serve as telephone operators, weather forecasters, and linguistics. It led to the formation of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). In WAAC, women were well-paid and enjoyed benefits equivalent to that of men in combat. In 1943, they were allowed to attain military ranks and serve overseas ( Hendrickson, 2018) . Despite attaining military training, they experienced mockery and stigmatization with a high level of sexual harassment and many trading sexual favors for lunch. Women served in a brave way during the Second World War and attained recognition in military activities. They did well in military training and attained high recommendations to join Special Forces. Many wanted the women to retire honorably after the Second World War, but the military persuaded congress to allow the women to continue serving because of their courage and good results in combat activities. They were enrolled and allowed to take the military as a career. Since then, women shine in military activities including all military games, active combat, and Special Forces activities. The negative perception of women has taken a new course with many believing in women to work professionally in military activities. Women are good at physical activities and can endure tough physical exercise to achieve expected results.
Women in the U.S military work on similar roles with men counterparts. They work in war fronts and operate in barracks during peacetime. They participate in physical activities including martial arts, morning runs, and combat training. Like men in the industry, they carry military gear for long-distance during training and operations. Women in the military have managed to become reliable intelligence officers and have proved a high level of capabilities in the field. Like women in other professionals, they manage to portray a high level of professionalism, abilities to understand, and the willingness to cope with hard times. Women serving in the U.S army are different from women serving the military before the Second World War. They are trained soldiers with military discipline and military professionalism Persson & Sundevall, 2019) . They have the ability to sustain pain, hardships and live to fight another day. It is different from women serving in the U.S army before the Second World War who only helped injured men or sell their bodies to make a living.
The experiences of a modern woman serving in the military are similar to that of a man serving in the same capacity. The experiences are similar because the two undergoes the same basic training as well as advanced courses. They serve in the same units, go to war together, and grow experiences together. At times, the experience may differ when the woman is extra active in physical activities. Due to gender, a woman is able to earn an advantage over men counterparts in the industry. It makes them learn fast and also earns career development opportunities. The experience of military women is different from women in other careers ( Hendrickson, 2018) . It is because of numerous challenges in military life that makes me earn professional and personal life experiences. Military life is full of challenges requiring soldiers to improvise most of the things to earn positive results. The hardships reflect an advantage in personal life since one gets an opportunity to learn how to use available resources to achieve expected goals. It makes women in the U.S military earn better life experiences and also have better opportunities in life than other women in society.
The media offers detailed information about women soldiers. It portrays them as courageous people who have sacrificed personal happiness to safeguard their nation. Although some magazines and websites portray women soldiers as individuals hiding behind men career for good pay, most media stations use facts to explain how hard it is for a woman to serve in the military and still have a personal life ( Weitz, 2015) . To explain the sacrifice made by female soldiers, the media explains the roles of a woman in society then adds the responsibilities of a soldier and the expectations.
My research confirms that women serving in the U.S military are exceptional beings who are smart and strong. Before starting the project, I had a notion that women in the U.S army work in medical bays, as clerks, and in VIP transport wings. However, the study has changed my notion to a new understanding that like men, women leave their families, go to war, and engage in vigorous physical training. They really deserve respect.
In conclusion, physical fitness, physical training, and sports are features not commonly associated with women in society. It is because of a lack of knowledge and exposure. With a close analysis of women in the U.S military, women can work in careers that involve significant physical component. They work in the same way as men soldiers and at times beat them in output. They undergo hardships than other women in the society and earn life experiences that make their lives better. Different from women in other careers, women in service receive a high level of harassment, but their determination keeps them moving. The media appreciates their service and portrays them as heroes and important beings who overlook their personal interests for the sake of the greater good.
References
Hendrickson, Mark. (2018). "Lynn Dumenil. The Second Line of Defense: American Women and World War I; Elizabeth Cobbs. The Hello Girls: America's First Women Soldiers". The American Historical Review . 123 (4): 1332–1334.
Oppel, Richard. (2015). "2 Women Set to Graduate From Ranger School Are Experienced Officers" . The New York Times .
Persson, Alma. & Sundevall, Fia (2019). "Conscripting women: gender, soldiering, and military service in Sweden 1965–2018". Women's History Review . 28 (7): 1039–1056.
Weitz, Rose. (2015). "Vulnerable Warriors: Military Women, Military Culture, and Fear of Rape". Gender Issues . 32 (3): 164–183
