Women and the Draft: Equality in the Selective Service
Topic:
Americans have been divided over the U.S. Draft for decades. Even though no American male has been drafted since 1973, the U.S. Selective Service has been under scrutiny in the 21st century for its exclusion of women. In an era where the nature if war is different than ever before and women are serving in more and more roles previously excluded to them, we will discuss if any reforms to the Selective Service System are required and what including women in the draft would mean for not only the Armed Forces, but American society as a whole.
Readings:
NYT: Senate Votes to Require Women to Register for the Draft: Link to Reading
Slate: Should Women Be Required to Register for the Draft?: Link to Reading
Atlantic: The Unseemly Death of an Amendment to Draft Women: Link to Reading
The Unseemly Death of an Amendment to Draft Women: Link to Reading
Familiarize yourself with the Selective Service System's Website: Link to Reading
OPTIONAL: Shipwrecked: women and children first?: Link to Reading
OPTIONAL: Women with Guns: Link to Reading
OPTIONAL: Women Belong in Combat. And in the Draft.: Link to Reading
Discussion Questions:
In what ways is the draft connected to patriotism?
What is the purpose of conscription? Are there any merits to conscription?
How is conscription an issue of equality?
If the United States has not implemented the draft since 1973, why is this important now? Do you think we will ever resort to conscription in the future?
What is the connection between combat and conscription?
