The subject of diversity and inclusion in the armed forces has long been debated. Factors such as ethnic diversity have been the target of recruitment drives in the past, but female representation and the experience of women in the armed forces have come to the forefront of the debate in recent times.
There has been a real push for female recruitment in the past year or so, against a backdrop of shocking and, quite frankly, disgusting reports from many major media outlets about the experience of women in the British armed forces. Below we dive into this debate from both sides.
MoD aim high with female recruitment targets
The Ministry of Defence set a target for female recruitment at the end of 2021 to reach 30% of all new personnel by 2030. This is ambitious considering the average percentage for all three armed forces combined has been just over 10% in recent years. Men still significantly outnumber women, as has been the case in most of history, but changing times have led to changing measures and some of the latest TV adverts for the British Army paint a clear picture of where the MoD wants the future of the military to head.
Female representation at senior levels of the military is seemingly even more disproportionate, although it’s been improving gradually over the last 10 years. It’s only been 5 years since all military positions were opened to both male and female personnel, which was a significant change allowing women to fight alongside men in close combat. So there is effort on the side of the MoD to drive female recruitment and create a more diverse and inclusive military, but the experience of some women in the armed forces has shed light on what new recruits could be in for.
Reports paint a shocking picture for some female military personnel
Media outlets continue to report shocking circumstances and treatment of servicewomen across all three branches of the armed forces. A recent report claimed that women’s health and wellbeing were being treated as an “afterthought” with many suffering from chronic UTIs and thrush as a result of poor sanitation and uniform complications.
Other recent reports have exposed evidence of widespread sexual harassment and “toxic cultures of sexual assault” stemming from military academies through to serving units and even up to senior military officials. These all portray a damning picture of British military culture and suggest that there is a long way to go before the British armed forces are truly inclusive and diverse.
Not only will these reports potentially impact the MoD’s drive for female recruitment, but the experience of current servicewomen and further involvement of military solicitors in legal cases will surely detract from the resources available to the armed forces at a time when domestic and international pressures are mounting.
