 Currently: 15% of active duty are women and approximately 20,000 are deployed in Afghanistan.  New Rules: Pentagon announced in February 2012 women will be allowed to serve in dangerous jobs closer to the front lines.  Example: medics and radio operators Did not say they could serve in combat. January 2013 The Department of Defense lifted ban on women in combat.  Why do you think official policy has been slow to catch up to the battlefield realities of women in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?  What do you think are some reasons women might want to serve combat?  Why do some people want to continue barring women from combat positions? Are their reasons valid?

 U.S.: Women at Arms: Beyond the Wire - NYTimes.com/Video  ure=relmfu ure=relmfu Why did these women want to join the military?  U.S.: Women at Arms: On The Ground  re=relmfu re=relmfu What problems do these women face that men may not have to?  Opinion: Women in Combat - NYTimes.com/video  =results_main&playnext=1&list=PL7DF62F24A7EB8F20 =results_main&playnext=1&list=PL7DF62F24A7EB8F20 Do you agree or disagree with the opinion fro this video  Pentagon lifts ban on women in combat 

 Should women be allowed in combat? Why do you think American military women have been kept out of combat situations? Do you think it is fair? Why or why not? Use evidence to support your argument. Evidence may include examples from the reading GI Jane, video clips, and class discussion.