Philosophy of Ethics
Szuber 1
Hicks
Philosophy of Ethics
April 19, 2012
Demanding a Voice
On November 11, 1865 President Andrew Johnson presented Mary Edwards Walker the
Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War. This was the first and only time a female has received this highly distinguished award. Women have been treated unfairly by men since the beginning of time. Deborah Sampson was the first known female in the American army; she impersonated a man in order to join the Continental Army. (Boise) Although women have been involved in the military since 1775, the challenges they face still seem to be present in today’s society. The equality between men and women seems to present an ethical issue.
Women began volunteering and serving in the military as early as the Revolutionary war.
Although women were not officially recognized until 1901, prior to that women volunteered and were contracted as nurses, cooks, and laundry women. It was not until 1948 that women were allowed to actually serve in the armed forces, reserves or regular. Before this time, women basically played water boy for male soldiers. For example, Molly Pitcher brought soldiers water on the battlefield while Betsy Ross was the woman to sew and raise the American flag. Women before 1948 were basically accessories to the men at war. Although women’s duties in the military are becoming an enlarged part of today’s society, it took them a long time to get to this point. It was not until the actual Army and Navy Nurse corps was created that women were even
Szuber 2
legally allowed to serve in the military. The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force did not even accept women until the 1970’s. (Women, Par. 1-4)
The progress of woman’s rights in the military are astounding over time, although there will always be a bias towards them. Men do not think that women are able to function like them and that they cannot defend our country as well as they could when it comes down to physical
abilities
Hicks
Philosophy of Ethics
April 19, 2012
Demanding a Voice
On November 11, 1865 President Andrew Johnson presented Mary Edwards Walker the
Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War. This was the first and only time a female has received this highly distinguished award. Women have been treated unfairly by men since the beginning of time. Deborah Sampson was the first known female in the American army; she impersonated a man in order to join the Continental Army. (Boise) Although women have been involved in the military since 1775, the challenges they face still seem to be present in today’s society. The equality between men and women seems to present an ethical issue.
Women began volunteering and serving in the military as early as the Revolutionary war.
Although women were not officially recognized until 1901, prior to that women volunteered and were contracted as nurses, cooks, and laundry women. It was not until 1948 that women were allowed to actually serve in the armed forces, reserves or regular. Before this time, women basically played water boy for male soldiers. For example, Molly Pitcher brought soldiers water on the battlefield while Betsy Ross was the woman to sew and raise the American flag. Women before 1948 were basically accessories to the men at war. Although women’s duties in the military are becoming an enlarged part of today’s society, it took them a long time to get to this point. It was not until the actual Army and Navy Nurse corps was created that women were even
Szuber 2
legally allowed to serve in the military. The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force did not even accept women until the 1970’s. (Women, Par. 1-4)
The progress of woman’s rights in the military are astounding over time, although there will always be a bias towards them. Men do not think that women are able to function like them and that they cannot defend our country as well as they could when it comes down to physical
abilities