Arms and the Woman

To a greater extent than ever before, the army of the future is going to be female. History is being turned on its head, as Western women train for combat: they now join the ranks of fighter pilots, artillery gunners and foot soldiers. As the barriers crash down in Britain and America, in the wake of the women who fought and died in the Gulf War, this book looks at the arguments for and against women fighting on the front line, shoulder to shoulder with men. From teenage girls growing up to be American Marines at boot camp, to the first Western female fighter pilot in Canada and the first women to go to sea with the British Navy in the Gulf, women soldiers, officers and war veterans talk about surviving in this most masculine of worlds. Are women aggressive enough to kill? Are they physically capable of keeping up with the men? Should they leave their children to go to war? Are mixed armies less effective? Do lesbians make better soldiers? Will our future generals and admirals be female? Kate Muir puts the questions to men and women, from the lowliest private to defence ministers.