The United States Selective Service System Essay - 1740 Words

How the United States Selective Service System Reinforces Systems of Inequality The United States Selective Service System, or the â€Å"draft† as it is more commonly known, is a deeply flawed institution. While there are many components with which I take issue, the one I chose to contend with in my creative project is its exclusion of women. Though women have recently gained the right to serve in all combat positions in the United States military, we are still not expected to register with the draft as all men in America must do when they turn eighteen. This system may be flawed, but if it is going to exist it must be equitable. The existence of the draft as a male-only institution sends a message about how our society views men and women as innately different, a belief which limits and hurt us all. Until we raise our voices in opposition to such essentialist beliefs and start changing the status quo, the draft will continue to exemplify all the things we continue to get wron g about gender differences and systems of oppression in society. For my project, I created a satiric video which touches on several different problems I have noticed with regards to women and the draft, including essentialist arguments against women in the military, the poor logic in excluding half the population from something so important, and the use of the draft as an argument to try and invalidate feminism. I chose this medium because I felt it was an appropriately accessible form. The images of UncleShow MoreRelated The Vietnam War Draft Essay1660 Words   |  7 PagesThe Vietnam War Draft Many people in the 1960s and early 1970s did not understand why the United States was involved in the Vietnam War. Therefore, they had no desire to be a part of it. 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Please see website: www.sss.gov/perfplan_fy2004.html to view the sss annual performance plan — fiscalRead MoreThe President Of Iran873 Words   |  4 Pagesunderstood that they should not question her on the events of the day. To most westerners, especially America the Middle East was something they did not understand. Its easier to think of the middle east as a contrast to America. Think about 50 states sharing boarders and interests with no binding constitution to consolidate shared interests and govern disputes. This is essentially what you have in the middle east. Iran and Iraq are mortal enemies as are the Saudi’s and Iran, multiply this complexityRead MoreShould The Draft Be Reinstated1695 Words   |  7 PagesShould the Draft Be Reinstated When a young man in this country turns eighteen they have to register for the Selective Service System. In the twenty-first century, people wonder if it is still necessary to have selective services. When Franklin D. 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