"In the majority opinion, Justice William Rehnquist wrote "[t]he existence of the combat restrictions clearly indicates the basis for Congress' decision to exempt women from registration. The purpose of registration was to prepare for a draft of combat troops. Since women are excluded from combat, Congress concluded that they would not be needed in the event of a draft, and therefore decided not to register them." Implicit in the obiter dicta of the ruling was to hold valid the statutory restrictions on gender discrimination in assigning combat roles. Men and women, because of the combat restrictions on women, are simply not similarly situated for purposes of a draft or registration for a draft therefore, there is no violation of the Due Process Clause."
""Our country has never drafted women, ever," said Lewis C. Brodsky, director of public and congressional affairs for the Selective Service. "The president asked that it [requiring women to register] be looked at about a year and a half ago. They [Department of Defense] looked at it and say they've reached no conclusion.
"Certainly the role of women is changing in the military. We may have to look at it more as the role of women continues to evolve," he said. "But right now, they feel that volunteers are all that are needed, in terms of women."
Brodsky said women aren't being considered for a draft because, historically, the draft was used to fill combat units. "Ninety-seven percent of all draftees went to the Army from 1948 to 1973, when the draft ended," he said.
With the current combat-exclusion laws covering women service members, they are precluded from being drafted for these units. Congress would have to change the law to require women to register and be drafted, Brodsky said.
An estimated 94 percent of the 18- to 25-year-old men in the United States have registered for the draft. Congress reinstated the registration requirement in 1980, after a seven-year lull. Men are required by law to register with the Selective Service System upon reaching their 18th birthday.
"However, if we had to draft health-care professionals -- doctors, nurses, medical technicians -- there's a very strong likelihood, with the numbers DoD would require in such a draft, a skill-specific draft, women ... could be considered because so many women are doctors, nurses and medical technicians," Brodsky said.
The huge feminist organization N.O.W. opposes any conscription but says if it's going to happen then women should be drafted too. They have testified to this before Congress.
The Servicewomen's Action Network has done a lot in favor of getting women in all areas of the military.
The SPLC women's chapter aided legally in a lawsuit asking for equality under a draft.
Until women are integrated fully in the military an equitable draft cannot happen. Those fighting for full female participation in the armed forces first and foremost are doing it right.
Is Magic Mike sexist towards men?
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Rostker v. Goldberg
"In the majority opinion, Justice William Rehnquist wrote "[t]he existence of the combat restrictions clearly indicates the basis for Congress' decision to exempt women from registration. The purpose of registration was to prepare for a draft of combat troops. Since women are excluded from combat, Congress concluded that they would not be needed in the event of a draft, and therefore decided not to register them." Implicit in the obiter dicta of the ruling was to hold valid the statutory restrictions on gender discrimination in assigning combat roles. Men and women, because of the combat restrictions on women, are simply not similarly situated for purposes of a draft or registration for a draft therefore, there is no violation of the Due Process Clause."
""Our country has never drafted women, ever," said Lewis C. Brodsky, director of public and congressional affairs for the Selective Service. "The president asked that it [requiring women to register] be looked at about a year and a half ago. They [Department of Defense] looked at it and say they've reached no conclusion.
"Certainly the role of women is changing in the military. We may have to look at it more as the role of women continues to evolve," he said. "But right now, they feel that volunteers are all that are needed, in terms of women."
Brodsky said women aren't being considered for a draft because, historically, the draft was used to fill combat units. "Ninety-seven percent of all draftees went to the Army from 1948 to 1973, when the draft ended," he said.
With the current combat-exclusion laws covering women service members, they are precluded from being drafted for these units. Congress would have to change the law to require women to register and be drafted, Brodsky said.
An estimated 94 percent of the 18- to 25-year-old men in the United States have registered for the draft. Congress reinstated the registration requirement in 1980, after a seven-year lull. Men are required by law to register with the Selective Service System upon reaching their 18th birthday.
"However, if we had to draft health-care professionals -- doctors, nurses, medical technicians -- there's a very strong likelihood, with the numbers DoD would require in such a draft, a skill-specific draft, women ... could be considered because so many women are doctors, nurses and medical technicians," Brodsky said.
The huge feminist organization N.O.W. opposes any conscription but says if it's going to happen then women should be drafted too. They have testified to this before Congress.
The Servicewomen's Action Network has done a lot in favor of getting women in all areas of the military.
The SPLC women's chapter aided legally in a lawsuit asking for equality under a draft.
Until women are integrated fully in the military an equitable draft cannot happen. Those fighting for full female participation in the armed forces first and foremost are doing it right.
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wigz
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*ACLU, not SPLC. Derp