Should women have to sign up for a draft at 18 like men do?

[ToriLammy]

Guess I'm more "typical" than was suspected. Bumping to see if the 50/50 vote stays consistent.

 

[Arabella Figg 2003]

aren't you tired of this already?

 

[cats7494]

I am all for women's rights and think all should be equal.

BUT.... if both men and women are drafted - who is home with the children?

I am just thinking here... if there is a child in the home - only one parent should be drafted.
How would that choice be made? Who would make that choice?

Lots of different family dynamics may come into play here.

 

[cati]

No.

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by TinaRN
I say "no". I think women should do their part as American citizens with rights and responsibilities. But I also think it is harder for the men in the military to defend our country when women are in combat. Men find it hard to be objective and protect the rest of the platoon when something has happened, or may happen, to one of the women in the platoon. Women evoke the emotional side of men (which CAN be a good thing!), which is something they are trained NOT to be in the military. Not being a man, myself, and not being in the military, I am not speaking from experience. I only speak about what I've been told by other men, some in the military, some not. If any military men want to give their opinion, I would love to hear it. Also (and I hope this doesn't cause a big debate) I don't think the majority of women are as physically strong as men. Even with training and physical exercise, MOST women cannot do what men can do physically. This is not meant as a put down to women. I KNOW there are some very strong women in the USA, but I am saying that MOST women are not as strong. Just remember this is my OPINION only. I don't have statistics to back it up.

I agree 100%

 

[cati]

..

 

[MosMom]

I had a feeling this issue would be 50/50. Most issues seem to be 50/50 unless it is completely black & white.

 

[Snowysmom]

I am in agreement with no draft but if there ever has to be one (and I hope there never has to be one again), women should be drafted just like the men. Women are currently serving in Iraq and unfortunately some have been killed. Alot of women want equal rights and along with that comes equal responsibility. Just my 2 cents!

 

[Nancy]

Signing up for the draft and actually being drafted are 2 different things. IF both are parents and both numbers come up in a draft, I would hope exclusions would be made. Didn't that happen back in WW1 or 2. If you were an only son you didn't have to serve? Or is that just my memory and old movies playing tricks on me.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by Nancy
If you were an only son you didn't have to serve? Or is that just my memory and old movies playing tricks on me.

I'm not sure how it worked back then, but I'd imagine that rule wouldn't apply today even if it did back then. The size of a family has really declined a lot since those days and I'd imagine there are a lot of families (mine included) where there is only 1 male child.

 

[jennyanydots]

Excuse me, but women are already coming home in body bags. So your poll is skewed and the results colored by your prejudices.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I believe this issue will change the nature of the draft if it is implemented. I believe there should be some mandatory service. I believe there should be options given so that this service does not have to be combat related. Because it seems impossible to have a draft and not include women, if a draft is put into place both women and men will probably have other ways to serve. But rather then do this we should proabably try to entice more people into voluntary service.
I also believe there should be some arrangement where both parents of minor children are not taken away from their homes. Besides the emotional problems for the family it would be an economic disaster.

 

[N.Bailey]

Originally posted by jennyanydots
Excuse me, but women are already coming home in body bags. So your poll is skewed and the results colored by your prejudices.

I didn't realize this was a scientific poll! Excuse me! The results don't appear to be too skewed to me! You don't give the people of the community board much credit for being able to come to their own conclusions either!

 

[phillybeth]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
Yes, I believe that women should have to register for the draft. And I believe it has everything to do with equal rights. With rights come responsibilities

ITA

 

[HaleyB]

Interesting poll. I am surprised. I voted no.
However you did not specify what sort of duty drafted women would be in line for. I might reconsider if non-combat was specified.
Equal rights does not mean Men and Women are the same. God forbid we should all be the same. What a world that would be.

 

[robinb]

I believe thay young women have the same responsibilities as young men. I voted "yes", even though I don't agree with selective service registration for anyone.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by HaleyB
Interesting poll. I am surprised. I voted no.
However you did not specify what sort of duty drafted women would be in line for. I might reconsider if non-combat was specified.
Equal rights does not mean Men and Women are the same. God forbid we should all be the same. What a world that would be.

Currently, by law women are restricted from certain combat related jobs. The list has gotten smaller over the years until it is to the point where only the really, really combat related jobs are off-limits to women. (for example when I first joined women could not fly fighters or bombers or even be missile launch control officers but those jobs are now open to women). I doubt that would change under a draft. Nor would they force women into those restricted combat jobs under a draft.

This does not mean that women will not be in a war zone, will not come across combat, risk being captured or even KIA but the women currently serving in Iraq face that every day so I don't see where any problem is. Or how it would change a person's mind about the draft.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

I voted yes...

Someone else posted a reference to WWII and exclusions made during the draft. I believe if there was only 1 son he could be excluded if the parents chose to request the exclusion. This happened with my Uncle - my grandfather chose NOT to ask for the exclusion. My Dad also served when he could have been excluded but he wanted to go. I also believe there were some exclusions related to farm labor at that time. My grandfather said once that he could have excluded my uncle either for being the only son or for being required for farm labor - apparently he wasn't much help on the farm so he chose not to have him excluded.

You could also request to serve with other family members during early WWII but after the incident that Saving Private Ryan was based on - this practice was discontinued to minimize the risk of losing multiple family members.

 

[mom2of2]

I voted yes. As for the comment on both parents:

I also believe there should be some arrangement where both parents of minor children are not taken away from their homes.

Already got news for you on that one. 12/28/02 My brother AND my sister in law both active duty Air Force stationed in Va. were sent over there. They have 3 children 8,6 and 2. I drove from NJ to Va on 2 days notice, picked up the kids and had then until 6/30/03. The war started 3/19/03. Granted they weren't drafted but this is their JOB, they chose it and signed the dotted line. I don't know that it would be any different if they had been drafted.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I voted no and I have 2 sons. Women are nuturers and capable of carrying life. Isn't it enough they supply the men who are drafted??? Tuffcookie, putting on the flame-resistant wear again!

TC