Women worldwide have fought for their rights for centuries, being deemed “too emotional” or “unfit” for many positions of power. America has undoubtedly progressed as a society to the point where women now have many opportunities, and statistics show that gender inequality gaps, especially in the workforce, are narrowing. At the same time, there are still issues preventing women in our country from achieving their goals, especially for those who hope to defend their country in the military. No dramatic steps have been taken to remove women from the battlefield, but small initiatives and government actions led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth narrow opportunities and pose a threat to the equality that countless women have fought for.
For women aspiring to enlist in the United States military, the threat of sexual assault is present every step of the way. From the academy to the field, there are countless incidents of women being taken advantage of. Last year, reports of sexual assault involved over 8000 service members, the majority of whom were female. No major action has been taken, and although the number has declined in recent years, it remains an unacceptable phenomenon.
Once women work their way up in the ranks, there are still wrongful termination cases to avoid, such as the four-star general, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who was fired without cause in early 2025. She was the first and only woman on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and served as the Chief of Naval Operations. Her name was rumored to be on a list of officers whose positions President Donald Trump questioned. Accusations circulated of her being a “DEI hire” or someone hired to make a company or organization more diverse, as opposed to being hired for skill.
Pete Hegseth defended the firing of Franchetti and other officers, saying, “Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars.” There is no evidence that shows that those officers were incapable of contributing to that mission. In fact, Franchetti served in the military for over 40 years. Male Admiral Daryl Caudle took Franchetti’s place.
Mothers looking to deploy face a unique set of challenges, made worse by the delay of an Army policy that would have provided childcare opportunities for military moms.
When mothers enlist, they often have to find a place for their child to stay that can cover the time when they are working while also being close enough to home, avoiding a lengthy commute. Many military bases have childcare centers for this purpose, but they are in high demand.
In recent years, waitlists for daycares have gotten increasingly long. This forces some women to sacrifice their positions and income in order to take care of their children. A policy that was going to help, labeled the MCCYN-PLUS, was recently put on pause, putting countless families in difficult positions.
Most recently, the Pentagon announced the launch of a 6-month evaluation of women serving in the armed forces. The targeted evaluation is an attempt to remove women from ground operations, masquerading as a necessary precaution.
The Pentagon press secretary blatantly told NPR that, “We should not have women in combat roles”, and furthermore commented that the Department of War “will not compromise standards to satisfy quotas.”
Although standard fulfillment is an understandable necessity to qualify for these positions, the complete removal of women from these roles is not. It is possible to maintain a space for women in the United States military while upholding requirements and ensuring proper training.
All these actions may seem minor, while simultaneously sexist, until you look at them cumulatively. As the Pentagon evaluates women’s “effectiveness”, they further the hills women must climb to defend their country. Changes will not be made without holding the perpetrators of these actions accountable, and opportunities will continue to shrink. It is time to wake up and face the reality of a future up in arms.
