Panel will be discussing the struggles women veterans have overcome and the progress that still needs to be made.
When it comes to women joining the military throughout history, women have had to go to extreme lengths in order to fight for our country.
“Women disguised themselves as men during the revolutionary war … We know at least 400 examples of women who disguised themselves as men during the Civil War,” M. Geneva Murray, director for the Women’s Center, said.
These challenges have been present since the very start here in the United States, Murray said. There are a number of examples of women fighting for equal participation in the military.
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The Women’s Center wants to recognize this by making the theme for this year’s Women’s History Month, “Working to form a more perfect union: Honoring women in public service and government.” On Tuesday, a panel will discuss the obstacles women and those in the LGBTQ community have had to overcome and are still overcoming in order to be seen as equals in the armed forces.
“It’s not just this year that it’s important. It’s always important for us to be talking about women who are in public service because they make such an impact in our society,” Murray said.
The panel is co-sponsored by the History Department and the Veterans and Military Student Services Center. Four women panelists who have served in the military will be present to discuss the challenges women have faced to get to where they are today.
The efforts for equal participation have made way for huge improvements, especially in recent years with the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” act in 2010. This was a big step for women and those in the LGBTQ community fighting to change the stigma. However, in regards to the trans community specifically, there is still a ways to go.
“Lesbian, gay and bisexual members could start serving openly in September of 2011 but that’s not inclusive for trans women,” Murray said. “So there’s still more that needs to be done in regards to trans women’s access to combat positions.”
Tonight’s panel aims to not only focus on the struggles, but also the accomplishments made by women like the two recent graduates from Ranger School.
“It’s not just in terms of looking at the challenges that are still ahead for us but also recognizing the service that these women have had … who are their role models,” Murray said.
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