Women in Combat: An Open Source Backgrounder
Background & Analysis
Women have been serving militaries as soldiers for thousands of years in many different eras and cultures. Females have found ways to serve their country despite resistance, sometimes impersonating male soldiers to join the fight on the frontlines. (Task & Purpose, 2018) There is no shortage of literature documenting women serving in both combat and support roles. Chinese scholars have identified 19 female warriors in the ancient period alone. The most famous Chinese women warriors were generals named Liang Yu Qin and Hong Yu Liang. Qin is known for her many victories in both national defense and the suppression of internal uprisings. In the Post Opium War Time Period, 1840-1949; Thousands of women officers and soldiers, organized in gender-segregated battalions, engaged in a wide range of military activities, including combat. (National Council for the Social Studies, 1994) During the U.S. Revolutionary War women serving under George Washington worked as spies, and in combat support-logistics roles. Women served in the U.S Civil War in a variety of roles including nursing, administration, espionage and in combat disguised as men. (Task & Purpose, 2018) Open source research indicates a significant trend for countries opening combat occupations to women. Some countries have been slow to remove gender barriers for women in combat while others have progressively dismantled all roadblocks. Many militaries have not succeeded in facilitating female military participation despite gender integration efforts.
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/women-combat-open-source-backgrounder
