Recently in the news a small group of women have graduated from the most notorious leadership school the United States Army offers: Ranger School. This school is composed of an intense 61 day combat leadership course that actually only allows men to attend. That is until a test trial was allowed for women to participate in Ranger School to see if they could handle it. These women sent shock waves throughout the military community, and were often doubted with people saying that they wouldn’t last a week. Of course, these female graduates proved their doubters wrong. They faced the intense combat head on and in the end were able to stand tall as they graduated. This is just one of many steps towards gender equality in the military. The military can still be seen as a male dominated industry, and even though women now are actively participating in it, there are still some areas that only allow men. Like, for example, the fact that even though these women graduated from Ranger School, they can’t actually serve as Rangers.

The exclusion of women in military combat can possibly be contributed to the early definitive gender roles and inequalities during America’s colonial era. Men were expected to the the “supporters” of the family, while the women stayed home doing housework and rearing children. Because of this, it kind of makes sense as to why when the first foundations of the US Armed Forces only allowed men in combat. Of course, there were those women later on who served as nurses and aides during the Civil War, and even fewer who actually cross-dressed as men to be in combat. It wasn’t until 1948 where women, by law, were a permanent part of the military.

It’s kind of weird to think that there is so much segregation between men and women in such a modern society, especially in the military. Thankfully, times are changing. Old rules and restrictions are growing outdated and being molded to fit with the times. There are those that see the need for positive change and are taking the steps to do so. The female graduates of Ranger School are a prime example of this. They are helping other women everywhere by giving them the courage to do “the impossible.”

The next thing to ask is this, “So what can I do?” Well, we can do a number of things. If you have interest in joining the Armed Forces, speak up! You’ll never know just how much you can achieve not only for yourself, but also for other women in the military as well. Take that opportunity, that risk, and see where it takes you. And if you have a friend who is thinking about joining the forces, offer your hand to them and support them! Be proud of them! Cheer ‘em on!
I think another important thing to take from this is that this doesn’t only have to apply to the military. There are still many male dominated industries in the U.S. that have these gender walls in place. Many women still face inequalities today that are really unacceptable. However, the achievements of the women graduates are giving hope to these women, to anyone really, who feel like they are being held back because of their gender. It’s as if they are saying, “Do what you love with everything you’ve got, even if it seems impossible, because you yourself can prove that it isn’t.”