Reading Reflection #8

At the beginning of this chapter we are immediately reminded of the divide between men and woman, in the case in the military as woman do not have to register for selective service as of now. This is a subject I have struggled with. I want all the same rights as men but I have no desire to go into war. I feel almost hypocritical wanting to have it all expect that, can one pick and choose? I also struggle with the military for the same reason that Newman next brings up and that is who signs up for the military. I have know people to join who are not doing so to get out of their economic situation or because it is the best option they have, they have done so because they wanted to (they also went to Annapolis) however those seem to be rare cases. Newman points out that "the most disadvantaged reaches of society have been overrepresented--to poor and working class people with limited educational and occupational opportunities military serve hold out the promise of stable employment, comprehensive insurance coverage, a living wage, free schooling, and the development of marketable skills" (269). No one can argue that those are not good things to acquire in life however there is also the risk of being shipped over seas, possibly to fight in a war you do not agree with, and dying. I struggle with this idea because on one hand those are great opportunities that are available for those who might not have those options without the military's help. However at the same time it bothers me that people might join the military because there is no better option, shouldn't they join because they want to?