Essay on "U.S. Military Bias Challenges Present in Overcoming"

Essay 4 pages (1239 words) Sources: 2 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

U.S. Military Bias

Challenges Present in Overcoming Biases in the United States Military: Past, Present, and Future

"The few. The Proud." "Be all that you can be." "See the world." These hiring slogans for various branches of the United States military (Marines, Army, and Navy, respectively; the Air Force has never officially adopted a slogan) suggest a great amount of pride, and offer opportunities of service and of personal fulfillment and achievement. These are some of the traditional sources for honor through military service, and it makes perfect sense to invoke them in trying to encourage enlistment -- the military is putting its best foot forward, and offering a kind of training and experience that no one else can. But though these slogans are wholly democratic in their language, and though they stem are issued by the oldest democracy in existence, the actual institutions behind these slogans might not be so equitable.

The various branches of the United States military have long been marked by severe biases, where opportunities provided to some -- i.e. white heterosexual males -- have been entirely denied to others quite explicitly for reasons of gender, race, and more recently, sexuality. From the segregation of troops through every major war until the Korean War to the very apparent dearth of female officers that persists to this day to the failed and discriminatory "don't ask, don't tell" policy, the military has not shown a true and concerted attempt to match their actions to the equality promised -- or at least suggested by -- their statements. Instead, the dominant power structure -- again, white heterosexual males -- has perpetuated itself by the consistent oppression of anyone different from themselves. This pattern was seen first in the segregation of African-Americans, then the barriers and degradations that women have been subjected to, and finally in the ongoing treatment of homosexuals.

Perhaps the most well-known case of widespread bias in the United States military is the segregation of African-American and white troops throughout most of the country's history. Most of this occurred over periods of time when the concept of a woman serving in the military would have been simply unthinkable, and issues of sexuality -- especially homosexuality -- were simply not discussed in a sort of "don't ask, tell, or do" policy that extended to and from society at large. This does not excuse such thought or action, but the fact that the military remained a highly biased organization in terms of race even when the issue was under heated contention -- as gender and sexuality issues were not -- provides some necessary context when observing any bias in the military. Though the specific groups affected by the military's bias might change, the problem is a persistent one, and reflects the hierarchy's refusal to approve of anyone who does not meeting their conception of the "right stuff."

If being an African-American meant you didn't have the right stuff until after World War II (and disparities have been noted even now), being a woman has become the new indicator of hampered success in the United States military. Not only is there a drastically lower rate of females achieving positions as officers and being promoted in general, but incidents of sexual harassment are also incredibly rampant in the military -- and it is very likely that far less than half of all sexual harassment incidents are even reported (Ernst & Gilbeau 1993). There is a definite and obvious bias towards men that still exists in the military, not just in the numbers who choose it as a career but in the way they are treated during their service. Women, however, are at least allowed to joining the armed services without hiding… READ MORE

How to Reference "U.S. Military Bias Challenges Present in Overcoming" Essay in a Bibliography

Related Essays:

Foreign and Domestic Intelligence Term Paper

Foreign and Domestic Intelligence

The intelligence system of the United States is the most capable one assembled in the history of man. This intelligence community (IC) has undergone reforms since… read more

Term Paper 22 pages (6712 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Military / Army / Navy / Marines

---

United States: Mitigate China's Influence in African Continent Research Paper

China's Influence In Africa

Though the United States remain the sole true global superpower following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, over the… read more

Research Paper 10 pages (3416 words) Sources: 10 Topic: American History / United States

---

Contemporary Documentary Term Paper

Independent Contemporary Documentary Films

Journalism seems to have strayed from its early history of working a story towards the presentation of unbiased facts. At the beginning of Operation Freedom, the… read more

Term Paper 11 pages (3030 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA Topic: Military / Army / Navy / Marines

---

Bias Few Things in the Human Environment PhD Model Answer

Bias

Few things in the human environment are not subject to bias. In the decision-making process, bias is necessarily part an parcel of the final decision. This is why important,… read more

PhD Model Answer 6 pages (2004 words) Sources: 8 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Obesity Affect on Military Readiness Term Paper

Military Readiness

The issue of Obesity in America has been a serious concern in recent years. In addition to healthcare, the issue of obesity affects many different aspects of our… read more

Term Paper 40 pages (10587 words) Sources: 25 Style: APA Topic: Nutrition / Diet / Eating

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>