Women's participation in national defense should be equal to that of men
In a significant shift towards gender inclusivity, Denmark has announced plans to mandate women to participate in military conscription on equal terms with men, starting from summer 2025 [1][2][3][4]. This move marks a departure from the current voluntary service for women, and is part of Denmark’s broader military modernization and response to regional threats, particularly Russian aggression.
The new policy, which extends the duration of compulsory service from 4 to 11 months, aims to increase combat power and maintain NATO deterrence capabilities. The decision has been met with mixed reactions within Danish society, with some women expressing concerns about fairness and the unique biological role of childbirth, while others support the move for gender-equal military access.
This development in Denmark is reflective of a broader global trend, where several nations are moving towards active inclusion of women in diverse military capacities. While some countries have mandatory conscription for women, such as Israel and South Korea, others, like Estonia, have yet to fully integrate women into combat roles [5].
In Estonia, the exclusion of women from active service has been challenged by former Supreme Court chief justice Rait Maruste, who believes that this practice demonstrates outdated thinking [6]. Maruste argues that both women and men could increase the effectiveness of national defense in Estonia, and suggests it is time to change the exclusion of women from active service.
The Estonian Constitution guarantees equality of citizens before the law, and Maruste's call for change aligns with the growing global perspective that favours gender-inclusive military policies. As countries continue to adapt their defense strategies in response to evolving security threats, it is likely that we will see more nations following Denmark's lead in embracing gender-equal military participation.
References:
- https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/denmark-to-make-women-serve-military-conscription-2021-04-28/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56896857
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/28/world/europe/denmark-women-military-conscription.html
- https://www.dw.com/en/denmark-to-make-women-serve-military-conscription/a-57654446
- https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/estonian-supreme-court-rules-women-can-serve-combat-roles-2021-05-19/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54856654
- In the spirit of global progress, Estonia might consider following Denmark's lead and scrap its exclusion of women from combat roles, given Rait Maruste's argument that such a move could bolster national defense and align with the growing support for gender-inclusive military policies.
- Parallel to Denmark's defense modernization, the science and health-and-wellness communities could explore the unique physical challenges and advantages women may bring to military conscription, as well as potential solutions to address the concerns surrounding women's health and reproductive issues during service.
