The Glass Ceiling in the United States Navy

The Glass Ceiling in the United States Navy

Men and women have existed jointly in the society . This existence is strengthened by the United States constitution which stipulates that both men and women are equal . theless , the history of women in the United States military , and in particular , the United States Navy indicates the presence of barriers to women 's advancement . At present these barriers may not be visible but are there (Morrison , et al , 1987 13 . Further , Morrison , et al (1987 , 13 ) points out that women are denied the opportunity to

advance higher for the simple reason that they are women

The Active Duty Military Personnel by Grade /Rank and Gender in 1995 and 1997 (1998 ) statistics shows that women experienced glass ceiling in the Navy . For instance , in 1997 a merely 13 .53 ) percent of the military officers were females (www .gendergap .com /military /Glascei .htm , 1998 This is in spite of the presence of standards in the Navy that are aimed at ensuring equal opportunities to everyone irrespective of religion race and gender

The diligence and dedication of women to the United States Navy as well as the nation was not equally recognized and rewarded . Women worked in the Navy for centuries . Their work included caring for the wounded and the sick , identifying and burying the dead as well as cooking laundering and sewing (www .gendergap .com /military , 1998 . Despite their dedication and diligence , these women got very little allowances , were regarded as invisible in official terms , a factor that made them to be called the Camp follower (www .gendergap .com /military , 1998 . Taking care for the sick was seen as women 's duty . Until nineteen thousand and one women were received in the Navy as contract workers or civilian volunteers such that they did not get any rank or benefits (www .gendergap .com /military , 1998

At the onset of the Second World War , the Navy nurses who comprised women only were permitted to don rank insignia . theless , these nurses did not receive any benefits and wages due to the fact that women were not regarded as persons under the principles that governed military compensation . Moreover , although nurses were officially part of both the Army and the Navy official , they did not acquire the status of relative rank ' until 1942 . Furthermore , full benefits and commissioning were permitted in nineteen forty seven after the passing of the Army-Navy nurse Act (www .gendergap .com /military , 1998

Similarly , glass ceiling was prevalent in other sections of the United States military including the Marine , Army and the Airforce . The initial participation of women in the marine was in 1942 when the Marine Corps Reserve was established (www .gendergap .com /military , 1998 . The women were trained only in military drill for the purpose of public appearances and parades . This female arm of the marine force had to live with the erroneous perception the force had toward them that is the capability of two men was equated to that of three women (www...