News Flash: Women in the Navy

In her article, “Hormonal Hurricanes: Menstruation, Menopause, and Female Behavior,” author Anne Fausto-Sterling presents a history of the regulation of women’s activities. Today, the idea that women are rendered incapable – both mentally and physically – of performing certain tasks or participating in certain activities because of their hormonal psychology or reproductive systems may seem antiquated. When we read about past examples of women being excluded from activities or positions because their hormones make them too emotional or their reproductive systems make them too vulnerable seem silly and obsolete. Unfortunately, they still exist. A prime example of this is the United States Navy’s ban on female submarine crew members. This example supports the notion that despite how far we’ve come in our thinking about women’s physical and mental capacities and capabilities, on some level we still deem women incapable.

The Navy’s submarine policy has been debated for decades. Just last month, an ABC News exclusive announced that the Navy decided to begin the process of lifting the ban on women serving on submarines (Kerley 2010). According to the article, spokesmen for the civilian Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen all indicated that their clients support lifting the ban. As a result, on February 19th Secretary of Defense Robert Gates signed a letter notifying Congress of the Navy’s policy change. The only possible problem would arise if Congress decided to pass legislation “specifically barring the policy change,” a decision that would have to be made during the thirty-day window that began when Gates signed the letter.

Currently, the Navy has more than 50,000 women in the 330,500-strong service (MacAskill 2010). Still, the first time women were allowed to serve aboard naval warships was in 1993. According to ABC, the Navy said has said that women have been banned from submarines “partly because of the close quarters and limited sleeping areas” (Kerley 2010). Although submarines are one of the last places in the military that women are excluded from, they will still be barred from entering the Seals, the Navy’s special operations combat team (MacAskill 2010). A Defense Department official told ABC News that the hope is for 12 to 18 ROTC or Naval Academy graduates will enter submarine training. Hopefully by then, that group will include a few women.

Overall, the result seems promising. Women are a big step closer to serving on U.S. submarines. However, even if Congress also supports lifting the ban, women won’t be able to physically serve on a U.S. submarine for almost two years. This is because the Navy has to alter several submarines before they can accommodate female members. Since officers are already separated from the other enlisted personnel on submarines, female officers will likely be the first women to be accommodated into the program. In addition, women will not be allowed to serve alone – the policy will require at least two women to be on board. Other ideas include having junior female officers bunk with more experienced female officers, to create a sort of mentor system. There will also be restrictions for pregnant women – a policy that is also implemented on surface vessels (Kerley 2010).

When asked about the policy, Naval and government leaders have said that the time has come to “broaden opportunities for women” (Kerley 2010). Although I applaud the Navy’s actions to include women on submarines, I find it troubling to think that 2010 is “that time.” What took so long? When will it be time for women to be Navy seals? When will it be time for women to fight on the front lines? My point is this: women are still being restricted from positions of leadership and power. Fausto-Sterling explains that throughout history, certain messages have been clear: “women, by nature emotionally erratic, cannot be trusted in positions of responsibility. Their dangerous, unpredictable furies warrant control by the medical profession, while ironically the same “dangerous” females also need protection because their reproductive systems, so necessary for the procreation of the race, are vulnerable to stress and hard work” (1997:91-92). Perhaps some of these messages no longer seem relevant. But in the context of this example, I think it is important to realize that these myths about women’s bodies and minds still exist. Maybe they manifest in different ways, but the underlying belief is the same: women are incapable.

These issues are not just present in the military. In fact, it is possible use this example of the Navy’s submarine policy to explore examples of this exclusion present in other institutions, especially, as Fausto-Sterling points out, in the medical profession. True, we are in the process of lifting the ban on women on submarines – but in other areas women’s positive capabilities are still not accepted or recognized.

Kerley, David, and Luis Martinez. "Exclusive: Navy to Lift Ban on Women Serving Aboard Submarines." ABC News. ABC News Internet Ventures, 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 7 Mar. 2010. .

MacAskill, Ewen. "US Navy Moves to Lift Ban on Women Serving in Submarines." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 24 Feb. 2010. Web. 7 Mar. 2010. .