# Should American Females be Required to Register for the Draft? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023 "2011-06-10T20:10:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/41 "2011-06-11T01:23:26Z")
> [@inkling](#): > > Wow. First, I am male (if not a man), and I believe that women should have ALL of the same rights, responsibilities, and opportunities as men, including pay, status, and selective service. I did not get the impression that any male respondent here feels differently. > > That said, it’s a sad truth that very frequently we all have to take a responsibility before the corresponding privilege or benefit comes, and one of the ways women could best demonstrate their equality with men would be to take on the responsibility of registering for selective service. > > And yes, it would be great to abolish selective service as an anachronism, or alternatively to require military service for all citizens, but I can’t see either of those things happening any time soon. Or even, for that matter, requiring women to register. I don’t understand your logic at all. So, we’re agreeing to less pay and going to war. Somehow, someone is going to say wow give these ladies their rights. No, they’re not. They’re going to laugh at how stupid we are and see what other shit they can pull on us. I’m done with this thread. It’s good to see how sexist the Dope is. I hope the men who voted women be required get shot in the face. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/42 "2011-06-11T01:28:05Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > I have to wonder why men (or why Dope men) want to see women in war? Does the idea of women dieing in war get some of your off? There seems to be a disturbing want for women to be drafted by men. Gee, I dunno, maybe some or all of those men think of women as equals and advocate equal treatment? Most of the women who answered the poll want women to be drafted too, so why do you keep pointing fingers at men? > [@](#): > > This is one of those times where I can just leave the Dope and wonder what redeeming qualities any of the members have. This is one of many times the Dope seems to have a mob mentality. Or maybe when you leave you should take a minute to re-examine why your viewpoint is so out of step with not just men, but most of the women who voted in this poll. > [@YaraMateo](#): > > I’m done with this thread. It’s good to see how sexist the Dope is. I hope the men who voted women be required get shot in the face. And what do you hope for the women?😕 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/43 "2011-06-11T01:31:17Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > …Actually, in the event of a real conscription, we’d have issues. How many people can’t serve because of being overweight or having mental health problems?.. I read somewhere that if the draft we reinstated today (using the Selective Service System’s reference plan & current enlistment standards) less than 25% of potential 18-25 year old men would even be eligable for military service (& there’s no way to really tell how many would seek deferments, CO status, or just dodge). Of course enlistment standards would likely be drasticly lowered before a draft was considered. Back to OP; I think draft registraton is a waste of money & a relic of the Cold War (even then didn’t have a point; no war with the USSR would’ve lasted long enough for the draft to be reinstated). That being said _of course_ women should have to register if men do (& of course they should be concripted if men are). YaraMateo is one to talk about having one’s cake and eating it too. Unless of course she’s willing to give up her franchise in exchange for exemption from conscription. First off women already get equal pay for equal work; they just do less actual work because of all the time they take off to have & raise kids. While that isn’t fair try being a man and doing the same thing (minus the actual pregnancy part of course). And let’s not forget that all the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs are overwhelmingly done by men. How many women are lining up to work construction, on oil rigs, or down in the mines doing grunt work? How come feminists aren’t up in arms over men making of the vast majority of workplace fatalities? Don’t even get me started on the fact that our entire family court systems views fathers as little more that cash cows (cash bulls). Or how much more likely men are to wind up homeless that women. And when women to end up homeless they garner much more sympathy than men & have more support options. P.S. BTW it looks to me that the reason why the “biggest vote” is Male: pro registration is because slightly more men than women have voted. Both sexes are leaning very heavily in favor of registering women. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/44 "2011-06-11T01:35:02Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > I’m done with this thread. It’s good to see how sexist the Dope is. I hope the men who voted women be required get shot in the face. This is totally out of line, and wishing harm on other posters isn’t allowed. I’m giving you a warning not to do this again. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/45 "2011-06-11T01:36:31Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is totally out of line, and wishing harm on other posters isn’t allowed. I’m giving you a warning not to do this again. I’m NOT out of line. I don’t feel sorry at all. Ban me. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/46 "2011-06-11T01:36:45Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > If a war can’t be supported with volunteers then it almost certainly shouldn’t be fought in the first place. And conscripted people tend to be inferior soldiers; that’s why the military doesn’t want a draft. It doesn’t want to fill its ranks with people who don’t want to be there and are just going though the motions. > > And the likelihood of your scenario is extremely small. American Civil War, World War I, World War II for the US alone seems to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/47 "2011-06-11T02:03:48Z")
Another (female) vote for “If we require men to register, we should require women” ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/48 "2011-06-11T02:12:41Z")
One more female who believes that if it’s required of men, it should be required of women. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/49 "2011-06-11T02:40:11Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > …Pay me and treat me like a man, I’ll go die in your war. I find very disturbing the biggest vote at the moment is I’m a man and think woman should be required. > [@YaraMateo](#): > > …I didn’t like this question and probably shouldn’t have answered, but was very disguisted by all the men who voted women to be required. I think they should know that. You man be a “man”, but you’re not a man of honor nor a gentleman. This is the dope so you don’t probably care. > [@YaraMateo](#): > > …I’m done with this thread. It’s good to see how sexist the Dope is. I hope the men who voted women be required get shot in the face. > [@YaraMateo](#): > > I’m NOT out of line. I don’t feel sorry at all. Ban me. :mad: Okay, we get that you’re disgusted by us men who don’t think women should be exempt from the draft (registration). What do you have to see to/about all the women who voted in favor of registering females? Do you think they should get shot in the face as well? If not then why not? > [@YaraMateo](#): > > …I have to wonder why men (or why Dope men) want to see women in war? Does the idea of women dieing in war get some of your off? There seems to be a disturbing want for women to be drafted by men… I find the idea of _anyone_ dieing in war disturbing, especially when they’re being forced to fight against their will. The thought of a women dieing is no more or less distrubing than a man dying. Why do you want to see men in war? Does the idea of men dieing in war get _you_ off? You’ve already admited a desire to see men violently wounded (& possibly killed). ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/50 "2011-06-11T02:57:29Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > I’m NOT out of line. I don’t feel sorry at all. Ban me. :mad: \ If you want to dispute a ruling, take it to ATMB. And be careful when you say “ban me”, because sometimes yeah, we’ll take you at your word. \ ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/51 "2011-06-11T03:08:35Z")
Female. If there MUST be a draft, then everyone should be subject to it. Even those who can’t qualify for combat usually have SOME skills that the military can use. No exemptions for going to college, or being connected, or being overage. If you’re capable of normal functioning, there’s a job for you. The only exemption is previous service. However, if women are subject to the draft, then they should be able to get abortions from the military medical facilities. Right now, they can’t, even if they pay for the abortions. I would vastly prefer that we don’t have a draft or even registration at all. By the way, service members do NOT get paid more for having a family. The thing is, if they’re single, they stay in the barracks and eat at the mess hall, and they don’t incur normal living expenses if they take advantage of these benefits. If they want to live off base, and eat meals elsewhere, they pay for that out of their pockets. If they’re married, then they get the cash equivalent of their housing (if they don’t live in base housing) and mess hall benefits. That’s not getting paid more. That’s getting paid in cash rather than in benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/52 "2011-06-11T03:23:09Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > One more female who believes that if it’s required of men, it should be required of women. One female who believes, conversely, that if it isn’t required for women, it oughtn’t be required for men either. Why don’t we take it in that direction? > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > However, if women are subject to the draft, then they should be able to get abortions from the military medical facilities. Right now, they can’t, even if they pay for the abortions. Good point. This is a concrete example of the inequality that **YaraMateo** rages against, which if not addressed and corrected will call into question why would we be doing this. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/53 "2011-06-11T03:25:29Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > One female who believes, conversely, that if it isn’t required for women, it oughtn’t be required for men either. Why don’t we take it in that direction? I vote for this. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/54 "2011-06-11T03:30:29Z")
Rep. Charles Rangel has argued that since lower-income Americans and Americans of color are disproportionately sent to fight and suffer in wars, it’s only fair to draft the affluent white guys too. Similar line of argument. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/55 "2011-06-11T03:37:09Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > By the way, service members do NOT get paid more for having a family. The thing is, if they’re single, they stay in the barracks and eat at the mess hall, and they don’t incur normal living expenses if they take advantage of these benefits. If they want to live off base, and eat meals elsewhere, they pay for that out of their pockets. If they’re married, then they get the cash equivalent of their housing (if they don’t live in base housing) and mess hall benefits. That’s not getting paid more. That’s getting paid in cash rather than in benefits. Actually, they do get paid more, although it’s only an occasional benefit. Married service members get [Family Separation allowance](http://usmilitary.about.com/od/fy2009paycharts/a/fsa.-uVk.htm) when they deploy, which a single person does not get. As for the question in the OP, I think that registering for the draft ought to be universal. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/56 "2011-06-11T03:38:25Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > One female who believes, conversely, that if it isn’t required for women, it oughtn’t be required for men either. Why don’t we take it in that direction? > Good point. This is a concrete example of the inequality that **YaraMateo** rages against, which if not addressed and corrected will call into question why would we be doing this. The reason you draft people is because national defense is a public good (which is why the gov’t should get involved) and that in times of extensive deployment or high casualties, you might not have sufficient labor. I would think people who are in favor of a given military action are in favor of it for its utility rather than ensuring that casualties quotas (n% of whites, n% of blacks, n% of heterosexuals, n% of gays, n% of Christians, n% of Jews, n% of atheists etc) are filled. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/57 "2011-06-11T05:53:33Z")
right now there is no draft so this is kind of a moot question, but if there were: YES women have been fighting in Isreal for decades. most any woman in any country is as fierce as many men could only hope to be ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/58 "2011-06-11T06:35:09Z")
‘I’m a female. I believe that women should be required to register for the draft,’ _if_ there is one in place. And I think that this is a good point: > [@zoog](#): > > In this day and age, I see absolutely no reason why women should be exempt from registering for the draft if we’re requiring that of men. And I’ll express a somewhat contrary opinion to some of the others here - I think that we should have a draft. No college exemptions, no dodging it by joining the National Guard, if you’re a congressman’s son/daughter - you’re on the list as well. Not that I think that we need to grow the military - I just think that if everybody had a chance of having to send a son/daughter off to the military, we’d probably be a little more selective in the fights we take on. It is much easier to send other people’s sons and daughters off to fight than your own. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/59 "2011-06-11T06:55:14Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > It is much easier to send other people’s sons and daughters off to fight than your own. On that note, my own proposal: If a draft is ever put in place, every politician that voted in favour of it gets executed. If the war effort is so essential that people should be forced to lay down their lives in its service, I’m sure they’ll agree that it’s worth laying down their own lives to make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023/60 "2011-06-11T07:01:46Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > What I meant by that is, for example, that women should be held to the same standards as men for serving in combat roles that require a certain level of physical prowess. I’m not talking about arbitrary standards–but if, in order to be in the infantry, you need to be able to hike X miles carrying a pack weighing X pounds, or run a certain distance in full gear, or whatever, then women should be required to do the same. I’d be okay with proportionally smaller packs designed to fit women’s body size (assuming smaller men had the same), but it’s like firefighters–if you can’t drag somebody out of a building because you’re not strong enough, you shouldn’t be in a job where you might have to. > > Conversely, I do support women being able to hold any combat position that men can hold. I don’t believe women are inherently any more “special” or protection-worthy than men. Plus, unless things have changed, the dangerous combat positions are the ones that get you promoted faster, so if a woman wants to make her career in the military she shouldn’t be barred from trying for them. Ah, okay. So if things are proportional re: strength, it’s OK? I mean, honestly, in combat, females aren’t really at a serious disadvantage, provided they are in good shape. But…given our hormones and changing bodies, we usually are. Naturally. > [@YaraMateo](#): > > I don’t and I’m a woman. Men hold more status than women. Men still make more than women. For second class citizens women are having all the benefits they once had taken away. No one holds the door for us or gives up their seat. It’s NOT equal rights. It’s you have to take one like a man, but not have the right to boys will be boys. Good. So men can go to war and die. > > Pay me and treat me like a man, I’ll go die in your war. I find very disturbing the biggest vote at the moment is I’m a man and think woman should be required. I agree. And I’m sure I sound all backwards and whatnot, but I have a feeling that if women were conscripted, you’d see a huge fight about every single mother having to fight. Or exceptions for the large per cent of overweight women, or the fact that women are traditionally less athletic and a little thicker after childbirth. Then it would be unfair to conscript women. If we had a mandatory service, I’d be OK with men & women serving…provided women weren’t discriminated against. I personally think that a little service to your country is a damned good thing and should be promoted more - if not outright required. _but_ Since we don’t NEED to do it, it’s not cost effective. Therefore, the only time this could come up would be conscription : and I really doubt we’ll ever have such a shortage that the DoD would push for it. It took them DECADES to not panic over gays…and women have only been flying in the USAF since the 90s. We have awhile to go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-american-females-be-required-to-register-for-the-draft/585023.md?page=4)