Females in Military Should females in military be allowed to lead combat units?

Gender discrimination is a wide exercised practice that is witnessed in the military organization as well. Women in the current times are equally challenging and capable of being a significant part of combat units. However, this subject matter has come under numerous arguments and disagreements with controversial results. In this regard, this study aims and intends to carry out a profound study that can determine whether females in military should be allowed to lead in combat unit or not. The study is a synthesis of both primary and secondary research that can aid the researcher to conclude with meaningful information.

Table of Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Research Methodology

Research Design

Participants of the Study

Data Collection Techniques

Timeline

Conclusion

References

Introduction

Since time immemorial, the element of discrimination and biasness, especially based on gender have existed in many sectors, whether it is social, political, business, or military. However, with the passage of time, the laws pertaining to equal opportunities have opened the ways for all genders to take similar benefits. Nevertheless, military is one of the few segments that still practice gender discrimination against women in some way or the other, even though the military wields immense influence on the society and is of great importance to the nation (Zeigler & Gunderson, 2005).

The debates and arguments over the subject matter of women discrimination in leading combat units have been actively observed from over couple of years. The discussions and disputes have brought forward the fact that the number of woman serving in the military have increased to a rate that has never been monitored ever before. In fact, they are continuing at an accelerated pace to make incredible contributions as well as profound sacrifices for the military (Zeigler & Gunderson, 2005).

Concerning this grave subject matter, it has become imperative to conduct a wide range of studies that can enlighten the significance of women contribution and their capabilities in leading the combat units. Based on the theme of gender biasness, the research intends to discover the role of women in leading combat units. Moreover, with respect to the gender discrimination, it is a substantial query that women should be permitted to lead in combat units or not, since the abilities and talent of the women cannot be ignored or overlooked in any sector they perform (Zeigler & Gunderson, 2005). In this regard, the research question states: "Should females be allowed to lead in combat units?"

Numerous researches in this regard have been carried out that has surfaced the skills and capacity of women in military. However, the investigations have presented mixed and controversial arguments and observation. Taking into consideration the positive aspect, the general population and experts have been in favor of women to lead in combat units. According to these schools of thoughts, the military that practice the policies of gender inequity should be changed and improvised such that the selection criteria for combat units ought to be skills, ability and training, instead of giving priority to the gender that forbids the military from employing the members based on their skills (Kotzur, 1997).

Researches and studies have also elucidated the fact that women in the same way have served the military, fought and died in wars. Indeed, it has also been exposed that women have also become prisoners of war, have been capable of firing lethal weapons, and have even operated the sophisticated systems during warfare. In simple words, the women have not only extensively fulfilled the physical and mental standards of the military, but are also technically competent, as well as highly qualified and trained as leaders and war fighters (Kotzur, 1997).

While looking at the other end of the spectrum, the opponents' have presented a set of differential views exhibiting that women are not capable to lead the combat units. According to the opponents' point-of-view, the women physically, emotionally and mentally are not proficient or capable to handle the stress of war. In addition, they also lack in strength and stamina, which makes them hypothesis of the research. The research methodology is an effective process because it is a synthesis of both primary and secondary research that helps in acquiring most appropriate results, where the data can be effectively interpreted by the researcher in the most accurate manner (Kumar, 2008).

The research methodology lays key emphasis on methods and actions, which aids the researcher to convert the raw data into meaningful information that is one of the vital and critical aspects of the research. After considering the hypotheses of the study with respect to the significance of the subject matter of women discrimination in leading the combat units, both primary and secondary research methods would be used for the data collection as the most accurate technique in order to achieve the most specific and exact data (Kumar, 2008).

Research Design

The research design is also viewed as the draft, design and blueprint of the research that oversees and administers the issues and problems that involves the relevancy of the data. However, the research with respect to the aims and hypothesis of the study would follow primary as well as secondary research method in carrying out the research study. This is due to the reason that a flexible and resilient approach is required during the process of data collection (Kumar, 2008).

Essentially, these research techniques involve an interpretative and naturalistic approach which is vital and fundamental for such kind of studies. Furthermore, both of these methods would facilitate the researcher to identify and determine the perceptions and standpoints of the target audience with reference to involvement of women in leading combat units.

Participants of the Study

The participants of the research study ought to be set of individuals that include former military soldiers that have been involved in combat units, high ranking military leaders, decision making officials (that make up the combat unit teams) and military students that are currently under the training. All of these categories of target audience are essential because the subject matter of women involvement in the combat units is a grave issue where discrimination based on gender must be eliminated. In this regard, feedbacks of wide range of military personnel would help the researcher with a comprehensive data to come up to a meaningful conclusion and interpretation of the data.

The total population of the respondents should be 150, because this figure would help the researcher to come up with valuable information from the respondents with respect to their perceptions and opinions in an expressive manner.

Data Collection Techniques

Primary Research

The primary research method involves the data collection directly from the target audiences that can measure whether females should be allowed in military to lead in combat units or not. Pertaining to the theme, the primary data collection method would encompass: (Kumar, 2008)

Open-ended Questionnaire: The trained researcher would conduct the exploration through survey by distributing the questionnaires (which is designed as the foundation of data collection procedure) amongst the respondents. The essential idea is to analyze the gathered data and observations of the respondents. Therefore, the research intends to assemble the wide and extensive perceptions of the target audience through the open-ended questions that can help determine whether the women should be allowed in military to lead the combat units or not.

Personal Interviews: Having a personal or face-to-face interaction with the target audience also aids the researcher to collect the responses, reactions and expressed ideas of the respondents with respect to the involvement of women in military combat units as leaders. The format of the interviews is semi-structured with open-ended set of questions.

However, time is and cost is the two fundamental and crucial constraints that are usually associated with this type of data collection method (Kumar, 2008).

Secondary Research

The secondary research method on the other hand is one of the types of research that involves the data collection from previous literatures and studies that have been conducted in the past. A number of studies and investigations are available on web sources, libraries and multiple database structures as well that provides comprehensive information with respect to the subject matter of women to lead in combat units as this theme has been under arguments since couple of years (Vartanian, 2010).

Additionally, the prior researches would also facilitate the researcher in gaining knowledge about the historical background of women in military combat units, major issues that arise from the subject matter of women in combat, pros…