Kara Dixon Vuic, LCpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt Professor of War, Conflict, and Society in 20th-Century America, talked with Mariel Padilla at The 19th News about comments made by Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense.
Hegseth has vocally opposed women serving in military combat roles, arguing without evidence that women in combat roles have made fighting more complicated.
With the topic making headlines, Vuic explained to The 19th why military leaders need to understand the practical implications of such policies, as well as how policies reflect larger social and cultural patterns. Hegseth’s comments, for example, are similar to arguments made in the past against having other groups of people in combat, including Black soldiers and gay men and women.
“I think top military leaders will push back because they know the realities on the ground,” Vuic said. “They see that women in combat is a matter of efficiency and effectiveness.”
Vuic's insights shed light on the evolving role of women in the military, the ongoing
discussions surrounding their participation in combat and the shifting boundaries
of equality and opportunity in society.
