Philosophy
by
Balazs Koranyi
June 14th. 2013
Reuters
Norway's parliament voted overwhelmingly on Friday to conscript women into its armed forces, becoming the first European and first NATO country to make military service compulsory for both genders.
"Rights and duties should be the same for all," said Labor lawmaker Laila Gustavsen, a supporter of the bill. "The armed forces need access to the best resources, regardless of gender, and right now mostly men are recruited."
Norway has been at the forefront in the fight for gender equality, introducing measures such as requiring all public limited companies to fill at least 40 percent of their board seats with women. On Wednesday the country celebrated a century since Norwegian women won the right to vote.
Women make up half of the current government, and opposition leader Erna Solberg is expected to become Norway's second female prime minister in elections later this year, according to opinion polls which indicate her Conservative Party and its allies will win a parliamentary majority.
"This is historic. For me it is fantastic to make history, for the armed forces and for women," Gustavsen said.
NATO member Norway has reduced its armed forces since the end of the Cold War and spends heavily on technology to keep a small but advanced military.
Women already serve in the military, but do so of their own volition. They make up a tenth of the armed forces, according to the ministry of defense.
The change is not expected to force women to serve against their will but should help improve the gender balance.
All young people can be conscripted in theory, but since the end of the Cold War the Norwegian armed forces have become more selective in choosing conscripts as their needs have changed.
Those who do not want to serve can often find a reason, such as university studies, to avoid the draft.
"In theory, it is possible (women would have to serve against their will), just as it can happen to men," Gustavsen said.
"But in practice, the armed forces recruit the most motivated young people."
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Philosophy
Norwegian conscription..."Hell no, we won't go"...well, sort of
"Norway becomes first NATO country to draft women into military"
by
Balazs Koranyi
June 14th. 2013
Reuters
Norway's parliament voted overwhelmingly on Friday to conscript women into its armed forces, becoming the first European and first NATO country to make military service compulsory for both genders.
"Rights and duties should be the same for all," said Labor lawmaker Laila Gustavsen, a supporter of the bill. "The armed forces need access to the best resources, regardless of gender, and right now mostly men are recruited."
Norway has been at the forefront in the fight for gender equality, introducing measures such as requiring all public limited companies to fill at least 40 percent of their board seats with women. On Wednesday the country celebrated a century since Norwegian women won the right to vote.
Women make up half of the current government, and opposition leader Erna Solberg is expected to become Norway's second female prime minister in elections later this year, according to opinion polls which indicate her Conservative Party and its allies will win a parliamentary majority.
"This is historic. For me it is fantastic to make history, for the armed forces and for women," Gustavsen said.
NATO member Norway has reduced its armed forces since the end of the Cold War and spends heavily on technology to keep a small but advanced military.
Women already serve in the military, but do so of their own volition. They make up a tenth of the armed forces, according to the ministry of defense.
The change is not expected to force women to serve against their will but should help improve the gender balance.
All young people can be conscripted in theory, but since the end of the Cold War the Norwegian armed forces have become more selective in choosing conscripts as their needs have changed.
Those who do not want to serve can often find a reason, such as university studies, to avoid the draft.
"In theory, it is possible (women would have to serve against their will), just as it can happen to men," Gustavsen said.
"But in practice, the armed forces recruit the most motivated young people."
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Yesterday was Gloria Steinem's 75th birthday. A wonderful event and an appropriate time to consider the state of gender equality and gender roles in our society. Domestic violence has been all over the headlines lately. The pay gap for women still...
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David Airth asks, "Marshall Mcluhan came to mind the other day with his "the media is message" idea. Many people argue that the media is bias towards liberalism. Is the media message then supposed to be liberal? But in the build-up to the Iraqi war the...
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From Hanno: The latest flap over John Kerry is solid bullshit and it amazes me how the Republican party can take absolutely nothing, turn it into a political issue, and have the press run with it. Kerry said "You know, education -- if you make the most...
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Many of Plato?s ideas about women?s roles in society are extreme for his time. His reformist ideas push for equality between men and women in every role of society, from the military to the guardians. While this is a feminist argument, it is undermined...
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