Military (Women in the Military)

We’re working to expand opportunities for female service members, to better prevent and detect sexual harassment and assault, and to eliminate all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on pregnancy and parental status.

Highlights

press release | Historic Decision on Combat Roles for Women Opens the Doors of Opportunity to All Women in the Armed Forces, says NWLC

January 23, 2013

Pentagon Chief Leon Panetta has lifted the military’s ban on women serving in combat. The following is a statement by Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center:

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press release | NWLC Applauds Senator Gillibrand's Legislation That Moves Key Decisions in Sexual Assault Cases Outside the Chain of Command

May 16, 2013

(Washington, D.C.) Today, Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senators Collins (R-ME), Boxer (D-CA), Johanns (R-NE), Begich (D-AK), Blumenthal (D-CT), Coons (D-DE), Franken (D-MN), Hirono (D-HI), Milulski (D-MD), Pryor (D-AR), Schatz (D-HI), Shaheen (D-NH), and Representatives Benishek (R-MI), Gabbard (D-HI), Hanna (R-NY) and Sinema (D-AZ) announced The Military Justice Improvement Act, the bicameral legislation that would reform the military justice system by moving the decision-making, prosecution and referral for prosecution of all serious crimes from the chain of command. Read more...

Legal Briefs & Testimony | Letter to Senate Committee Supporting the Military Justice Improvement Act

June 7, 2013

In a letter to the Senate Committee on Armed Services regarding the Military Justice Improvement Act, S. 967, NWLC indicated strong support of the Military Justice Improvement Act, S. 967, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would remove from the chain of command the prosecution and other key decision-making in military cases involving crimes punishable by confinement of one year or more, except crimes that are uniquely military, such as disobeying orders.

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Fact Sheet | Restrictions on Assignments of Military Women: A Brief History

May 6, 2013

The general trend since the end of the Second World War has been expanding roles for women in the armed forces. This paper provides background information on the history and status of policy governing assignment of military women.

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More Resources

Fact Sheet | DACOWITS Should Be Revitalized

December 14, 2008

For over 50 years, the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) served as a force for the successful integration of women into the military and steady expansion of women’s roles in our armed forces. In the Bush Administration, the Committee’s mission and responsibilities were downgraded. For the sake of overall readiness and effectiveness of our armed forces, DACOWITS should be restored as a meaningful advisory body with authority to independently advise the Secretary of Defense on issues concerning military women.

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Fact Sheet | Military Women Should Have Full Access to Reproductive Health Care

December 02, 2008

Military women’s access to reproductive health services has been severely restricted under current law and Department of Defense policy. Although the focus of this position paper is on the effect of the restrictions on military women, the restrictions also apply to the detriment of dependents of both military men and women.

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Reports & Toolkits | Be All That We Can Be: Lessons from the Military for Improving Our Nation's Child Care System: 2004 Follow-Up

June 09, 2005
This publication, a 2004 Follow-Up to Be All that We Can Be: Lessons from the Military for Improving our Nation's Child Care, details the changes and improvements that have occurred in the nation's military child care system since the original Reports & Toolkits was published. Read more...

Reports & Toolkits | Sexual Harassment of Women in the Military

October 30, 2002

Following the widely publicized Tailhook incident, in which 26 women reported being sexually assaulted at a September 1991 gathering of Navy aviators, sexual harassment of military women has received significant attention. However, the problem of widespread sexual harassment in the military was not new, either to women in uniform of to Pentagon officials responsible for addressing it. This paper describes the extent of sexual harassment in the Armed Forces, and suggests reasons behind the problem, including laws restricting assignability of women and an inadequate system for redressing sexual harassment complaints. It also proposes reforms to reduce this form of sex discrimination in the military.

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Reports & Toolkits | Be All That We Can Be: Lesson from the Military for Improving Our Nation's Child Care System

August 15, 2000

This report tells the story of the military's success in transforming its child care system into a model for the nation and offers valuable lessons for policy makers and others on how similar improvements can be made in civilian child care.  

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