A query
So... I've been doing a bunch of research at NCW {National Council of Women} regarding women being able to serve on juries in the same capacity as men. Whilst women have been able to vote for over a hundred year yet jury service has only been complusory and without gender specifc exception since 76. {42 allowed voluntary service, 62 complusory service with opt out for gender as an option}. It seems that the cheif differculty in getting women the same civic responsibilities as men is that people don't like jury service. Its much harder to get support for a cause if its a responsibilty rather than a priviledge.
So I was wondering... lets assume a hypothetical situation. The New Zealand Government has put into place conscription in response to a major international crisis {Lets pretend indonnesia has invaded Australia, which is the only situation I can easily think of that might necessitate such a move}
Should Women be conscripted on the same way as men?
In principle we all agree that women are equal members of society with all teh same rights AND responsibilities. But people are still abit skwimish about girls getting hurt. By people I mean mainstream folks rather than cool hip progressive feminist like us. For the backwards folks of this country and the world this may present and interesting socialogical situation.
It presents an interest military paradox as well. One the one hand, much of what the military does is dependant on everyone being treated as equal, without concessions made on ethinicity, social standing or gender. So it stands to reason that women would have to be conscripted in order to maintain this ideal. But historically, for this reason, the military has been very reluctant to put in place quotas or out put goals {although there are recruitment goals}. Because they have resisted attempts to put in place quotas the women who have been in uniform {currently about 20% of the NZDF} are known and trusted to be just as capable as their male counter parts {infact, in many case superior, since they often have someting to prove}. I'm not sure to what extent plucking women off the street, rather than the highly motivated minority who volunteer, would be able to compete with a man whose been plucked off the street but perhaps more likely to adapt to teh military environment.
An interesting conumdrum. One that I would like to hear other viewpoints on. Assuming people still read this LJ.
So I was wondering... lets assume a hypothetical situation. The New Zealand Government has put into place conscription in response to a major international crisis {Lets pretend indonnesia has invaded Australia, which is the only situation I can easily think of that might necessitate such a move}
Should Women be conscripted on the same way as men?
In principle we all agree that women are equal members of society with all teh same rights AND responsibilities. But people are still abit skwimish about girls getting hurt. By people I mean mainstream folks rather than cool hip progressive feminist like us. For the backwards folks of this country and the world this may present and interesting socialogical situation.
It presents an interest military paradox as well. One the one hand, much of what the military does is dependant on everyone being treated as equal, without concessions made on ethinicity, social standing or gender. So it stands to reason that women would have to be conscripted in order to maintain this ideal. But historically, for this reason, the military has been very reluctant to put in place quotas or out put goals {although there are recruitment goals}. Because they have resisted attempts to put in place quotas the women who have been in uniform {currently about 20% of the NZDF} are known and trusted to be just as capable as their male counter parts {infact, in many case superior, since they often have someting to prove}. I'm not sure to what extent plucking women off the street, rather than the highly motivated minority who volunteer, would be able to compete with a man whose been plucked off the street but perhaps more likely to adapt to teh military environment.
An interesting conumdrum. One that I would like to hear other viewpoints on. Assuming people still read this LJ.