Will American Women Be Forced To Register For A Draft?

Women may eventually have to register for the draft, according to Army Secretary John McHugh.

“If your objective is true and pure equality then you have to look at all aspects” of the roles of women in the military, McHugh said, and registration for the draft “will be one of those things. That will have to be considered.”

Before I go on – please keep in mind, unlike men, women are not mentioned by name in the United States Constitution. There is no protection against gender discrimination within the text the United States Constitution – even the most conservative Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia, has noted this fact.

There’s also the troubling issue of high incidences of sexual assault in the military. A report from the Defense Department revealed that 76 percent of servicewomen and nearly half of servicemen said sexual harassment is common or very common. Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) is working hard to create and enforce legislation that would require an impartial third party to investigate charges of sexual abuse. This is necessary, especially when the commanding officer is the one accused of an assault, and is also the person designated to investigate that charge. Gillibrand’s efforts so far have been thwarted, and she isn’t getting the votes or support needed to make this much needed change.

Congress will have to decide if women will be forced to register for Selective Service, and McHugh expects a “pretty emotional debate and discussion.”

As more military occupational specialties are opened to women, the debate on Selective Service System registration was inevitable, McHugh said, and he added, “If we find ourselves as a military writ large where men and women have equal opportunity, as I believe we should.”

Equal opportunity.

How will it be equal when only one gender is protected under the constitution – by name – while women are still waiting?

The U.S. will likely never see an all male military again; however, why should women be forced into war when they don’t have a guarantee of protection from the federal government?

The solution isn’t a mystery. Ratify and enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment into the Constitution, and allow a third impartial party to investigate military rape.

ERA text: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”

The text is simple and straightforward. Most importantly, it can only be interpreted one way. Gender discrimination will be a federal offense.

Cue all of the anti-feminist whiners who will complain – without understanding the actual issue – that women should have to be held to the same standard as men.

Equal Means Equal.

Why should women be forced into war when they don’t have the same protections men have? The issue of military sexual assault isn’t solely a women’s issue, but it is a huge problem. Until this problem is addressed and resolved, why should women be forced into potentially violent living situations with the people who are supposed to be on their side?

This isn’t about one gender having more power over the other. This isn’t about female dominance. And this isn’t even about whether or not women or anyone should or shouldn’t be drafted. It’s about true equality. You simply can’t have true equality when interpretations of existing amendments allow the cycle of discrimination to continue.

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