International | The Kevlar ceiling

Women warriors and the war on woke

Trump’s Pentagon pick wants women off the battlefield

Marine recruits from Bravo Company move ammunition cans through an obstacle course during the Crucible, a grueling 54-hour field exercise, at Parris Island, S.C., USA.
Photograph: Hilary Swift/ New York Times/ Redux / Eyevine

ON JANUARY 14TH Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defence, will be grilled by senators on his suitability for the job. He will be quizzed on allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He is also certain to face questions about women and war. “We should not have women in combat roles,” he said in a recent podcast. He acknowledged that women had served “amazingly” in America’s armed forces and that female fighter pilots were welcome, but argued that women were simply not strong enough to serve in infantry, armour and artillery units. Since admitting women, “the standards have lowered,” he said.

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This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Women warriors and the war on woke”

From the January 11th 2025 edition

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