May 10, 2016, by Rachelle Scott – Generally, women are considered as misfits for tasks which involve physical diligence. A common perception is that they will get drained easily. They are unable to lift weight, push or pull heavy objects or stand for so long. They cannot fight back, can`t be a good warrior, guard or fighter. But in actual these are just gender stereotypes.
In fact in the world`s largest and efficient fighting wings there are women fighter pilots, naval officers who are performing very well. Let’s look at some common myths along with examples of women who did otherwise.
Women Are Not Good Drivers
Mariya Vasilyevna Oktyabrskaya was a Soviet tank driver in World War II. She was awarded the “Hero of the Soviet Union” award; the Soviet Union’s uppermost award for bravery and courage during combat. Along with her in World War II there were few more female tank drivers. But after that, there are a number of female drivers who are engaged in driving war vehicles.
And land is just a pinch there are number of women in USA, USSR, Turkish Air force wings where a number of women are serving as fighter aviator. Their performance according to records is outstanding and is equivalent to that of male aviators.
Women are also participating in car racing, motorbike battling etc. Even contest regarding parking skills of vehicles are being conducted throughout the world and women are actually showing their amazing talent, abolishing the stereotype of being bad driver because of their gender.
Physical Strength
Pattern of war in 20th century had totally changed. Modernized war equipment and boost of nuclear technology used in weaponry had changed the concept that war can be won by physical strength.
Though, I admit to some extent that men performance in fields where bodily strength matters is better than women. But considering women are not eligible for such domains or are misfit is not correct.
Keeping in mind war pattern and women strength US army had designed Army Nurse Corps and the Women’s Army Corps in 1942. After 1942 a huge number of women had joined army and their performance is equally beneficial. So, it can be said that women are now parallel to men in facing war and defense challenges. Not only the women of US army but of all major army wings of the world.
Before 1942 in historical war like WWII and Mexican Revolutionary war, women participated by disguising themselves as male person. They performed well and were also awarded for their outstanding bravery. Deborah Samson Gannett and Elizabeth C. Newcume are examples of women physical strength during war and life.
Emotional Strength
Common thought is that men can easily manipulate women and can control her to gain favors because women plan from heart not by brain. It is easy to cheat women through emotional dialogs and tactics. But seriously it’s cultural and media hype only there is no concrete scientific evidences to advocate that women are any more susceptible to combat stress and hassle than male counterparts.
Secondly, there are number of female troopers who had managed to overcome stress of warfare, casualties and organization circumstances in a way that they became a bright reason of accomplishment during battle.
Management Skills
People might be thinking that management skills or organizational skills are domain of male gender. But women nursing, developing and supportive abilities are far better than that of men. And obviously nursing and nurture is all about management and patience expertise.
For ancillary war works women are considered ideal as they are good in household work and that proficiency can be utilized in war field as well. Since ages women had been serving in battlefield and rescue operations as a nurse, collaborator, coursework help pros, food provider etc. Just because of their strong supervision skills, control on emotions, strong temperament to deal wounded and dead, capability to motivate in hard-hitting circumstances. Nancy Wake, Elsie OTT and Annie Etheridge are nurses in wars with strong command on emotional and psychological strength.
To conclude, there are hundreds of women working in combat zones and are efficient, commanding and resourceful in their particular field, and, as stated, “kicking out pigeonholes about capacity of female gender in war zone.”
Author Bio: Rachelle Scott takes great interest in writing insightful blogs on subject matters related to our veteran society and military and ex-military personnel. When not writing, she works as a social media analyst at a marketing firm.