Erosion of the Us Army’s Glass Ceiling for Women
Introduction
The Army Personnel Services Detachment (APSD) does not present any form glass ceiling for women. This is primarily due to the nature and make up of the organization. The APSD is a military organization and the highest ranking officer in its composition is a captain. Currently, the US Army is having tremendous success in keeping equitable promotion opportunities in the junior officer ranks. The APSD has no current equal opportunity (EO) issues based on unfair treatment among the sexes, but female Soldiers have dealt with severe gender discrimination over the past 65 years.(Living the Legacy of Women’s Rights, n.d.)
Signs of a Glass Ceiling for Women in the Army
At the conception of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), in 1942, the glass ceiling was low and not very transparent. It installed obvious obstacles that were visible to anyone who slightly cared to notice. From its introduction, the pay of the WAC women were 20% less than the wages paid to male Soldiers. Over 145, 000 women of the WAC participated in World War II (WWII). Approximately 180 women lost their lives but less the 0.5% of the total number Army women serving were awarded military decorations for their service.( Burgess, n.d.; Living the Legacy of Women’s Rights, n.d.)
Initially it was impossible for women officers of the WAC to achieve the rank of general. The highest rank a commanding woman could attain was colonel. A female officer could only be promoted to colonel if she was assuming a command. If she was not taking a command then the highest rank attainable was lieutenant colonel. In 1967, after the Vietnam Conflict draft, Congress removed the cap that limited how many women were allowed in a military uniform. Even after the cap was lifted the Army Recruiting Command did not pursue interested eligible females. Their marketing campaigns were targeted directly at eligible men. It wasn’t until 1970 that the first woman general was selected. An Army nurse,
The Army Personnel Services Detachment (APSD) does not present any form glass ceiling for women. This is primarily due to the nature and make up of the organization. The APSD is a military organization and the highest ranking officer in its composition is a captain. Currently, the US Army is having tremendous success in keeping equitable promotion opportunities in the junior officer ranks. The APSD has no current equal opportunity (EO) issues based on unfair treatment among the sexes, but female Soldiers have dealt with severe gender discrimination over the past 65 years.(Living the Legacy of Women’s Rights, n.d.)
Signs of a Glass Ceiling for Women in the Army
At the conception of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC), in 1942, the glass ceiling was low and not very transparent. It installed obvious obstacles that were visible to anyone who slightly cared to notice. From its introduction, the pay of the WAC women were 20% less than the wages paid to male Soldiers. Over 145, 000 women of the WAC participated in World War II (WWII). Approximately 180 women lost their lives but less the 0.5% of the total number Army women serving were awarded military decorations for their service.( Burgess, n.d.; Living the Legacy of Women’s Rights, n.d.)
Initially it was impossible for women officers of the WAC to achieve the rank of general. The highest rank a commanding woman could attain was colonel. A female officer could only be promoted to colonel if she was assuming a command. If she was not taking a command then the highest rank attainable was lieutenant colonel. In 1967, after the Vietnam Conflict draft, Congress removed the cap that limited how many women were allowed in a military uniform. Even after the cap was lifted the Army Recruiting Command did not pursue interested eligible females. Their marketing campaigns were targeted directly at eligible men. It wasn’t until 1970 that the first woman general was selected. An Army nurse,
References: Burgess, Jerry G. (n.d.), Partners in History, Retrieve December 19, 2005 from http://www.awm.lee.army.mil/partners.html. First Female General Officer in the U. S. Army (2003), Retrieve December 19, 2005 from http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/FAQ-FemGO.htm. Glass Ceiling Still Unshattered (2000), Retrieve December 19, 2005 from http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/article345.html. Living the Legacy of Women’s Rights (n.d.), Retrieve December 19, 2005 from https://www.patrick.af.mil/deomi/Observances%20&%20Demographics/Gender%20Observances/WHM98.HTM.