This May will mark six years since I put on a military uniform and began serving in the same marine infantry unit — first as a combat medic in a reconnaissance platoon, and now as a strike drone operator. I have witnessed three distinct forms of war: the forgotten trench war, the large-scale war of maneuver, and the drone war. Over that time, after many combat operations and losses, much has changed within me. It is gratifying to see how attitudes toward women in the military have shifted duri

In this phase of attrition warfare — into which four years of full-scale invasion and attempted total occupation of Ukraine have now settled — the Ukrainian military and society must welcome every woman who wishes to fight for her state. And they must begin to shift how they see us: from symbols of defense, to agents of defense.

The question of whether women are trusted as full actors in defense is one that every military institution, and every society that claims to value equality, beyond Ukraine, must answer honestly.

  • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
    10·
    5 hours ago

    Very well written piece! I think she makes a very good point writing about how women in the military need to be valued as actual soldiers, not just “tokens” or “symbols”.

    Around half the population consists of women, and they have the same right to fight for their freedom as any man. Not only that, there are plenty of combat positions where women are at least as capable as men. A well functioning military needs to understand that and try to give every soldier the opportunity to work with the tasks they do best: That includes valuing women as actual agents of resistance, not just symbols to boost morale.