General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn the name of equality, should women have to register for the draft like men do?
Serious question.
The political scene in the last few months have brought up many issues about women's equality and rights. We currently don't have a military draft like during Vietnam; however all males U.S. citizens (some religious exemptions like Amish) are required by law to register with the Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Women do not have to do this. The Selective Service is the method the US uses to get your information if the draft (conscription) is reinstated.
If you don't register for the draft and don't have conscientious objector status you cannot receive federal student loans, federal job training, or be employed by the federal government. Moreover, you could also face five years in jail and $250,000 fine.
When a guy in the US turns 18 they have to sign a piece of paper saying the government can take them and send them to die somewhere whenever they see fit. They even give you a selective service number which is what they will use when you are called up. Women are exempt from registering with the Selective Service and, as a result, the draft.
If we are striving for true equality and a country that does not discriminate based on gender, should women, like all 18 year old men, be forced to register or face the same penalties that men do?
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Zalatix
(8,994 posts)
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)
Motown_Johnny
(22,308 posts)it is a huge waste of time, energy and money
napoleon_in_rags
(3,991 posts)
donheld
(21,311 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)mackattack
(344 posts)But it also comes in the mail. I did it in 2001 when I turned 18. Worked for the DoD as a civilian two years ago and to give em my number.
http://www.sss.gov/default.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_System
My favorite part is when you look up your number from the .gov website and they have the picture of the dude drawing numbers for the Vietnam draft. It made me physically ill. But because I wanted student loans and not to spend time in jail, I signed up.
liberalhistorian
(20,818 posts)and he automatically received his number in the mail, as did most of his male friends. He'd both registered to vote and had a driver's license, so I'm sure that's how it happened and that's how it happens with most males when they turn eighteen now. I know when my stepbrothers turned eighteen (many, many more years ago!) they had to show proof of registration before they could practically do anything worthwhile.
As for the OP's question: absolutely yes. I see no reason why not. Women already make up a good percentage of the armed forces and it's sexist to make men be the only ones who have to register. If we want fully equality as women, then that means FULL equality.
enlightenment
(8,830 posts)Are you sure? 
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Every man in the US under the age of 50 has had to register for the draft. When your kids turn 18, they will too.
Luminous Animal
(27,310 posts)
Hosnon
(7,800 posts)Including myself.
It's not really discussed that much, just a fact of life.
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)End of discussion.
DURHAM D
(32,610 posts)mackattack
(344 posts)Seems like that would be equality. Cant have your cake and eat it too, so to say.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)The ERA will compel women to register for the draft.
In fact, it prohibits government from institutionally discriminating, and since the only remaining forms of institutional discrimination are those which were designed and intended to help women (WIC, Women owned businesses, women's educational equity program, etc.) arguably men are the ones who should be pushing for it.
I gather you are under the impression that the ERA was passed.
No im not, thanks. But it did exist and I did not remember seeing that particular clause in there when I read it.
But thanks for the snark. That always helps a discussion.
DURHAM D
(32,610 posts)Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Section 3. This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification.
I don't see a carve out for anything, including the draft.
Its just like the post-civil war amendments only regarding sex instead of race/former status as slave or free.
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)We don't have any cake, so to say.
FYI the ERA was first drafted in 1928 by Alice Paul. There's an amazing movie with Hillary Swank that details Ms. Paul and her group's fight for suffrage, which we finally won (Iron Jawed Angels). But we won nothing more.
Selective Service came about in 1940 so it would not have occurred to Ms. Paul to suggest it. At neither time would it have been deemed appropriate for women to serve in the military as other than a secretary or nurse ( or seamstress, etc.).
This discussion came up in the 60's but was shot down because no one wanted the draft for anyone, especially since rich kids or kids with families that had "pull" were never drafted.
If this isn't relevant to what you said than I don't understand your comment.
mackattack
(344 posts)"This discussion came up in the 60's but was shot down because no one wanted the draft for anyone, especially since rich kids or kids with families that had "pull" were never drafted. "
That is exactly what I was wondering. I do appreciate it.
Greybnk48
(10,168 posts)mackattack
(344 posts)I was curious about it. I suppose the zeitgeist of the time would have negated it being a possibility. But I never hear this issue mentioned alongside equal rights, so I wondered if the discussion even took place. Evidently it did.
DURHAM D
(32,610 posts)
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)If you want equality, tell the men who keep denying it to us.
Liquorice
(2,066 posts)
obamanut2012
(26,080 posts)An ERA and full equality in all the armed forces, which women do NOT have now. Full equality and I 100$ agree with the OP, although I think a better answer is get rid of the draft now.
avebury
(10,952 posts)medicine without a license and allows women to make their own reproductive decisions. Part of the reason that you join the military is to protect your country and defend the constitution. Why should women fight to protect a government that infringes upon their constitutional rights and interferes in their medical care.
I don't know why anyone would want to join the military in this day in age. For a long time the world looked upon this country as a noble one what fought for righteous causes. That era is gone and are viewed as overly militaristic and there are some countries that wonder if we are actually interested in global dominance. If we cannot achieve it economically, are we falling back to relying upon military dominance? We have come to rely upon the military to keep too many people employed. Imagine what would happen if we modernized our military, closed some of our bases, downsized the troops - there would be a lot more people trying to find jobs at a time when the economy is not really strong. Also, it would hurt the military industrial complex if we were smarter about how we spent our military budget (imagine actually buying what was needed, not what would make a huge profit for some Senator's or Representative's sugar daddy). But if the military budget was spent more wisely, allowing for funds to be put into improving our infrastructure that would create jobs in a manner that actually benefited the country. In addition, if we developed a WPA program like Roosevelt did, you could get people off of welfare/unemployment, put them to work, and create projects that actually benefit everyone.
Does it make sense to spend money in a way that benefits only a small amount of people, or think big and spend it in a way that creates tangible results in a manner that helps people to stand on their own two feet?
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)We are in serious threat of having a draft again soon if we don't get corporate money out of our government.
Corporations do not give a whit for human life. They care only for the bottom line.
trackfan
(3,650 posts)That said, I don't think anyone should have to register for the draft. I was in the gap of a few years that didn't have to register, and I'm Glaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad about it.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)No question about it. And if we get a draft, women hav to serve too.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)Personally, I think the word is used as a head fake, as in "equality for women".
"Equality for women" is a non-sequitur. It's gibberish. Equality is a mathematic expression. You can't have equality without comparing it to something else on the other side of the equals sign.
Either equality is a worthy goal or it is not.
Puregonzo1188
(1,948 posts)mackattack
(344 posts)
Justice wanted
(2,657 posts)
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)Not that-that means anything. I see how the local PDs have treated the First Amendment. No doubt if women were given equal rights by law, this law would be violated routinely, but it would be nice to see it on paper. OTOH I don't like the draft and I like it even less when it is called something else to try to trick people into thinking we don't have one, it's stupid just call it what it is. So, that being said, if women are truly equal under the law yes they should be required to register for the draft.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Roselma
(540 posts)of females.
Now....if we had any sense, we'd end this registration for the draft anyway.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)by the 99% while the one-percenters sit idly by reaping the rewards.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Women can serve in the military now so they could be subject to it the same way. It would take a talking point away from the right wing, too.
Jennicut
(25,415 posts)There should never be a draft again.
HappyMe
(20,277 posts)But since that isn't going to happen, yes, women should have to register too.
w8liftinglady
(23,278 posts)He was Israeli by birth,and did manditory 2 years service in the military before he went to medical school.Men and women serve equally in equal roles.He favors mandatory service for all Americans...with no exceptions.He said it strongly affects the aggression shown by a nation when all serve.I tend to believe him.
EFerrari
(163,986 posts)their service in the West Bank and how each of them deals with the trauma resulting from their own actions while they served. It has English subtitles.