Parents of daughters: listen up. There’s something going on in our Congress right now that you probably want to know about, but might not have. Perhaps with all of the other major events we’ve been hit with recently this has slipped under the radar. But this is a doozie.
Today, the Senate voted to approve a bill that would require all young women to register for the draft when they turn eighteen. Female conscription. Did you know that was even up for a vote? I didn’t. But when I read the news tonight, I found my hands shaking.
Right now, these lawmakers are deciding the future of my little girls, who are two and eight years old. Reading the senators’ callous quotes about fair is fair and don’t women want equality, my blood started boiling.
Parents of boys: This is not to say that I think your sons should be drafted. This is a post about lawmakers picking and choosing when they want women to “be equal.” We aren’t treated equally in the workplace, but we should be equal during war? They can’t have it both ways.
So here is my letter to the Senators who have decided what is “best” and “fair” for our daughters, and are using the call for women’s equality to their advantage.
Dear Senate: Here’s Why I Say NO to Female Conscription
My princess is not a soldier.
Look, I’m all about gender equality – I am a woman after all. But let’s be real: we don’t have gender equality yet in the United States.
This is a society where statistically, females are paid significantly less than males for the same jobs. This is a society where it is nearly impossible for a woman to properly raise a newborn and keep her job. This is a society that teaches our little girls that the most fabulous thing a woman can be in life is a princess.
So, let me get this straight. We condition our little girls to be princesses…and then potentially force them to go fight at war?
That doesn’t add up to me.
I hate the idea of anyone sending their child off to war. Like just about everyone in this country, I have family members and friends who served multiple overseas tours of duty and I know that it was torture for their parents. I don’t think any parent deserves that.
I’m also not saying that women shouldn’t be allowed to serve on the front lines, should they want to and are physically able to do so. But how can we force women to be fighters, when their society has told them for their whole lives that they are meant to do just the opposite?
And honestly, there are some cases where men and women aren’t equal…and that’s ok. Men can’t birth babies. Women should be guaranteed maternity leave that isn’t a joke. But again, that is instance where the argument for women’s equality has been used in a way that is not actually beneficial to women.
Continuing on the subject of inequality, there’s the physical aspect of it, which we can only do so much to change even if we wanted to. There’s no getting around the fact that as a whole, males have more muscle mass and more testosterone, which translates to greater strength. It doesn’t matter how hard I lift weights or how much protein I chug, I’ll never be bigger or stronger than my husband.
I do want to say that I’ve known some pretty badass girls over the years that could probably give many male soldiers a run for their money. My incredible roommate during my stay in Mexico fought off a male attacker when we were mugged in the street. But realistically, that’s not what our culture trains girls to do.
My oldest daughter is the most petite girl in her class every year. She’s sensitive and terrified at the sight of even the smallest speck of blood (mosquito bites can be cause for a meltdown). She lives and breathes all things princess. How can you tell me that this little girl should be shipped out to battle with hardened soldiers?
Senators: imagine your little princess struggling under the average foot soldier’s load of 87 to 127 pounds (which might be more than her own body weight). Can you imagine that? I can’t. I don’t want to.
Perhaps it won’t be an issue, regardless of what happens when this bill and Congress’ military bill (which does NOT include a provision for the female conscription) go before a special House committee. We can only pray that our country never has the reason to re-instate the draft.
But is that a chance we want to take?
I tell my girls that they can be anything the want to be when they grow up, and I truly mean that. If they want to be a soldier, then this mom will toughen up and deal with it. However, my daughters have wholeheartedly embraced all the pink and princesses and rainbows and butterflies and all of the other “girlie stuff” that has been marketed to them since before they were old enough to even tell us what they like. So I don’t see that happening.
You can’t tell our little girls that they are princesses, and expect them to grow into soldiers.
You pretend you’re promoting “women’s equality,” when all you’re really doing is promoting your own agenda.
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Bethany says
I have to agree. This society, and wish the Bible in fact, teach us to train our girls to be homemakers. We spend whole lives teaching then to become good wives and and mothers and then ship them off to war ?!?! I dont think so
becky dozier says
I only had boy’s. There’s no longer a draft for male’s. Why should there be one for females. Females as you pointed out are not built like males physically . Women are the ones that are the peace keepers of families. They’re the ones that hold the family together as a general rule. If women go to war who will be here for families and help this country as they did in other wars. They helped by making the things that our soldiers needed to fight against the enemy.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Very interesting point Becky! I hadn’t even thought of it that way!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Yep! Things have been moving towards equality, but many still believe in and teach traditional roles for women.
Ashley says
First of all, there is most definitely still a law requiring males to register with selective service. Secondly, I understand the concern for our daughters being out on the front lines, but you have to understand that there a great number of different jobs in the military that have nothing to do with that. The thought of a draft is terrifying for anyone, but could you say to another mom that you think her child deserves to go more than yours because of their gender? Also, Don’t get me wrong, I’m no fan of the government continuing to invade our personal lives, but I find it interesting that the article is all about how our society shows a woman’s value (and inequality) through this “princess culture” you speak of, yet you’re feeding into it and in fact using it as the reason women should not be required for a draft. YOU are also picking and choosing when you think women should be equal by saying we don’t have a decent maternity leave, unequal pay in the workplace, etc., but because of that, they shouldn’t be required to register for a draft. Through all of the military conflicts in the past ten years (there has been more than you likely know of), a draft has not once been instituted, in fact, selection boards were developed to reduce the amount of servicemembers in jobs that were overmanned. With sheer knowledge of understanding how a draft system works, you would know the chances of an eighteen year old girl being selected are pretty low, first off. Two, plenty of other countries actually require all of their citizens to serve in the military for a short period of time, and based on some of the characteristics of children being brought up in society today, I don’t think that’s a bad idea. Our daughters don’t need to be raised up as “princesses”- they need to be taught that they have more worth than their looks, and they are capable of doing whatever is put in front of them. It’s ironic to me that you’re defending little girls by patronizing them.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Hi Ashley, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts. (And keeping it pretty respectful). Agree or disagree, what I wanted to do was start a conversation, because this is something that had gone on under the radar, and it’s important we know what our lawmakers are doing.
1- I don’t think that anyone else’s kids deserve to be drafted instead of mine. I don’t like the idea of a draft at all really.
2- I don’t like princess culture. It’s a reality of our society though, and even though I try not to feed into it, this is what is shoved in our girls’ faces everywhere we look.
3- I don’t think the logic is fair that women need to be ok with being drafted IF we want to get equal treatment in other ways. Why do we have to concede or “prove ourselves” BEFORE we are given equality? That’s what bothered me most about the whole issue: lawmakers using the cry for equality to push their agenda.
I know everyone won’t agree with me, but I’m glad to start a discussion! Thank you for joining in!
Joyce Hegarty says
No time to waste , We need a Twitter movement now I’m @Jheg901
Here is what I know:
@MacThornberry
@MacTXPress
@SenJohnMcCain
Already passed with provision H. R. 4909. S. 2943 , now in “conference (key people above)
If they don’t remove the provision our only hope is Obama #VetoNDAA17
Also #NotMyDaughter
#TooHighPrice “progress”
I emailed my senators who voted for the bill with provision
I shamed @Rep_Hunter who WRECKLESSLY introduced the provision to boost his career (he gambled with OUR daughters’ futures and WE lost, as you know his daughter will be exempt miraculously)
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thank you for providing contact info! We do need to let our lawmakers know when we don’t agree with what they are doing!
Joyce Hegarty says
And no one is reporting this, barely making talk show circuit and even then they are like “Meh, I have boys.”
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Exactly! I’m so surprised that this isn’t being reported more!
Larry Tollison says
Don’t worry cause Obama would then have to send his daughter in draft as well.This is nothing but a scare tactic of the government. Ali didn’t fight in war and was imprisoned. You think they will imprison that many women.