If we were to go back a few short decades, the title of this article would inspire quite a bit of head scratching. Serving in the military was once very much a boy’s club, In the days of the draft, the idea of women in the armed forces was not unheard of, but was also not widely discussed or accepted. In the 1970’s the volunteer military opened new doors for females to enlist. While there was a drastic increase in the numbers of female service members, women serving as equals alongside men remained a controversial topic. The interesting thing is that while it has been the subject of debate in recent years, stories of heroic and trailblazing women within the U.S military ranks date back to the founding of the United States itself.
While the history of female military heroes is a long one, it has not been an easy road to acceptance. Furthermore, the contributions of women have not received the recognition they deserve. While women have been, over time, afforded greater opportunity to serve their country, it has been a gradual process and in the past came with many limitations.
It was 2013 before U.S. policy changed, lifting a long-standing ban on women in combat and the change did not fully take effect until 2015. Prior to this, women were allowed to serve only in a limited capacity. As far back as the First World War, small numbers of women were allowed to join with the primary goal of taking over office duties to “free the men to fight.”
We must note, however, that women have risked their lives in conflicts and foreign wars well before the rules permitted it. Remember when we said that female soldiers date back to the birth of our nation? You may not have heard of one of the great heroes of the American Revolution, who was also one of the first recorded females on the front lines of battle.
Deborah Sampson served in Washington’s army, but this was much easier said than done. Sampson disguised herself as a male so that she could contribute to a war that wouldn’t have her. She fought valiantly and was paid in wounds and scars from battle. Her injuries included a musket ball shot to her thigh which she removed herself to avoid a physical examination that might reveal her secret. Not only did she fight in a war that her society said was not hers, but she risked her health for the opportunity to keep fighting. She also was not alone. Historical records show at least four women who served during the revolution including Anna Marie Lane who suffered a serious injury in the war, Sally St. Clare, who lost her life on the battlefield, and an unknown woman who disguised herself and went by the name Samuel Gay until her gender was discovered and she was discharged. These are only the instances that were documented, and surely there were other women who took the same bold steps.
All of these women demonstrated remarkable strength and dedication to their community. They chose to put themselves at great risk when they could have been content to stay home and “let the men handle it.” This is the real tragedy of our cultural ignorance of history. Those who stood up when they didn’t have to and sacrificed themselves for others are forgotten as the wheels of time roll forward. There is little that we can do to address the sins of the past. What we must do now is work to not repeat them. While things have changed drastically for women in the armed forces, those who serve are still undervalued and underutilized. It is important to acknowledge the sacrifice of all who serve. But we should take a special look at those who are treated with inequality in the very country they risk their lives fighting for. Consider that 43 percent of men and 56 percent of women in the United States Military are a racial minority. That means that people who face discrimination at home will go overseas and fight to protect their country, knowing that when they return home, to some people they will be nothing more than skin color or gender. Right now, there is a Muslim man, called a terrorist at home, fighting to keep us safe from attack. There are people who are gay, lesbian, and transgender who are called immoral by their neighbors, but they are putting the lives of others before their own. There are little girls that will grow to be strong women in spite of what they are told and what limitations others place on them. We live in a diverse world full of heroes and we must honor the contributions of them all. Stand up for those who stand for you and remember to honor those who break the mold, push the boundaries, and stand strong in a world that tries to hold them down.
