Women and Battlefield

January 16, 2023 Imphal By Bhogen Goswami:

Throughout human history, men have always been an epitome of power, strength, courage, and mightiness. This has set up an imaginary consciousness in our minds for generations to associate them with battles or battlefields. However, very few historical records are known to us on women’s involvement in the battlefield. Contrary to this, women have rather been compared metaphorically to delicacy, softness, love, and weakness, etc. Though we have a few records of them to have fought in forceful battlefields, the numbers are quite insignificant, compared to men in most historical records of the patriarchal societies. However, ever since the late 18th century, women’s participation in battles have become a prominent one.

Quite fortunately, with the rise in people’s quests to achieve human rights and gender equality, things have changed in different ways. Women are given a wide range of opportunities to serve their nations through involvement in battlefields. But it would be a crucial concern that how far women have come up to grab the opportunity and are secured to join the battlefields.

The Reasons Why Women’s engagement in Battlefields was once a Matter of Concern

When we study and analyze the traditional reasons behind less involvement of women in the battlefields, there are two primary factors found, such as physiological, and social factors. Physiologically, women are believed to enjoy less physical advancement and strength than men in general. From menstrual inconveniences to pregnancies, women are physically found endowed with lots of obstacles in the long run. Even though today’s contemporary approaches defy this notion, ancient patriarchial societies anticipated women’s role with every task. This gives rise to the second social factor where women are generalized and are often associated with weakness and softness, which made it to be considered unworthy of participating in the frontline of the battlefields.

Women in the Battlefields Today

With people becoming more educated and with the rise of feminism, things have also changed in the notion of women’s physical strength and their potentials.

According to some of the researches and studies on women’s participation in defense services, their workforces are found parable to men.

In recent years, various countries, including the U.S. have lifted the restrictions made on female soldiers and have even been allowed the qualified soldiers to fight on the front lines.

At this juncture, the problem comes when women’s engagement is found less in military services even though various positions are opened to them. Among the reasons for such circumstances, lack of encouragement, security, and family support are some of the common factors. And at the same time, there are instances where women are unable to fulfill the physical requirements.

Ways How Women get Involved in the Battlefields

If qualified and eligible, every woman has every right to serve according to their qualifications and potentials. There is a wide range of ways on how they can do so. Serving on the battlefield doesn’t only mean that they should take the weapons and fight on the front line. There are certain non-combat posts, such as translators, weather forecasting services, multi-linguists, and telephonic operators. 

They can also be on the track by either supplying medical care or as by serving as spies to the male soldiers. There have also been records of women raising money for wars.

Crucial Things for Women in the Battlefields

Just letting and allowing women to participate in the battlefields should not be an end of the story as they are still vulnerable to get attacked and targeted for discrimination. Defense and military policies of every country should also provide certain provisions and security for them. Women in the military, like others in corporate sectors, should never be deprived of equal pay for equal work. And any sort of gender discrimination should not be tolerated. In addition to this, precautionary measures on safety and sexual harassment should be kept on priority. Ensuring these key ideas will not only save them from unwanted consequences but also will promote more participation in such professions to serve the country.

Benefits of Women’s Involvement in Battlefields

Allowing women folks to engage in the battlefields and military combats can give a wide range of benefits both to the country as well as at the individual level. Ensuring them with a deserving job is one of the keys to the nation’s reduction of unemployment, which will eventually boost the economy.

Employing individuals regardless of their gender will also help in increasing the military strength of the country. Women are known for their versatility, which can also be considered as another plus point.

In addition to the enhancement of the nation’s military power, there will be better social life with fewer gender inequalities if women are allowed to engage in such positions at the battlefields.  It will help them raise their social status and make secure the privilege of becoming a strong and independent individual.

‘Women’s Battlefield’ from a Dimension

In today’s contemporary world, the notion of ‘battlefield” can also be viewed from various dimensions. They have always been in a battle of being a mother, daughter, wife, daughter-in-law, and as an independent woman, etc. Though ‘gender equality’ has come into the limelight, and as a crucial topic to discuss, women’s battle to stay parable to men seems to be a never-ending quest.

We could witness a chain of rape cases, domestic violence, etc., against women in the news and social media. At the same women are still striving, protesting to achieve equality with various demands, such as equal pay for equal work. Considering this, it would be flawless to claim that women have started engaging in the battlefields, not in the traditional notion of battle, but a battlefield of life, survival, upliftment, and platforms where they can raise their voices.

The Bottom Line

Considering all the advantages, benefits, and potentials, it would always be flawless to support women playing their deserving roles in the battlefields. Though there seems to be a presence of certain vulnerability to discrimination and sexual harassment, the brighter side is more predominant. It is high time for us to recognize women’s power and their potential by allowing them to pursue their dreams and take part in every positive move of the nation of their choices. At the same, people of today’s contemporary world should stop defining “what women should do” and “not to”. Women, on the other hand, should also not take things for granted. Their safety rights and precautionary measures should be taken as a priority to keep certain unwanted consequences like harassment and discrimination at bay.