In 1917, toward the end of World War II, women were finally allowed to join the military. But this doesn't mean they were given the same treatment or rights as the men. For a while, most served as nurses and weren't allowed into combat. It wasn't until 1948 that they were given permanent status and veteran benefits. One would think that almost a hundred years later, women would finally have the treatment they deserve for fighting for our country. But unfortunately, that is not the case.

It is relatively common knowledge that the life of a soldier is not a comfortable one. But however bad the men have it, it only gets worse for women. One of the biggest issues women face in the military is sexual trauma, which can have the same life-long affects as PTSD. There is no treatment offered while on duty for those who have suffered sexual assault. No rape kits, no pregnancy or HIV tests, no morning-after pills. A few brave women go AWOL in search of treatment, but most don't dare speak out. The Miles Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping these women, has recorded 518 cases of sexual assault on women serving in the Middle East from 2003-2006. But they can only help those who report the crimes. It's hard to know exactly how many unreported cases there are. Women are actually encouraged not to report these kinds of attacks, because commanders want to maintain order. A study done by the Veterans Affairs Association estimates the sexual assault, sexual harassment, and rape rate among women in the force to be around 60 percent.

While less extreme, women face many other issues as well. When it comes to gear, the military is more concerned about equality rather than equity. True, women want to be treated the same as men. But there are some things that can't be equal. There's no question that women are built differently than men. Despite this, women in the military wear the same equipment as the men. Women who have served have 20 percent more musculoskeletal problems than men, and ill-fitting gear is thought to be the main cause of that. Not only does it cause pain, but ill-fitting gear can also make it more difficult to do important tasks. Oversized boots make it difficult to run and cause ankle and knee injuries. Bulletproof vests that are the wrong shape cause pain, don't offer as much protection, and can hinder movement. Even seemingly unimportant things can cause problems. Men's uniforms are not meant to be removed for urination. Obviously, this doesn't work for women, so they are forced to use plastic devices that can often cause urinary tract infections.

Speaking of infections, they have to deal with the problem no one wants to talk about: menstruation. Unfortunately this is one thing men use to justify why they think women shouldn't be in the army. Therefore, the women try not to make a big deal about it. But it's a biological process that can't be ignored. There are certain medicines that can be taken to weaken or stop a women's period, but when pills are missed, which can occur often in a busy soldier's life, it can cause great discomfort and sickness. While women are perfectly capable of performing the same tasks as men while on their period, it's bad for their health if they don't treat it properly. Deployment can be stressful, and many places for deployment are very hot; both are things that can increase the severity of menstruation. Because the women are in uniform and working almost all day, it's hard to maintain cleanliness. This plus the dirt and dust they encounter on the field can lead to infections as well as just general discomfort. Their rations don't include pads or tampons, extra pain medication, or extra water for clean up. There is definitely issue with suggesting women receive more of something than men, but this is a real problem. Women need the extra water for not only cleaning but also drinking: dehydration comes quicker when a women is menstruating, not to mention the fact that shared living spaces with an overabundance of men make it so women feel uncomfortable taking care of these things at all. However, no attempts are made to alleviate any of these pains.

Even after their service, women are still treated unfairly. Women veterans often are scolded for taking military discounts or parking spots. They are told they are""too pretty to have served". At VA clinics they are assumed to be the wives of vets, and are often cut in line by men. And because they want to appear as strong as their male counterparts, when they do get to the front of that line they often feel uncomfortable asking for help with gynecological problems or sexual assault trauma. If they do report sexual assault, they are expected to provide proof before they can receive any disability benefits, and proof is often hard to come by because those things are usually covered up. This is in addition to the issues that a lot of veterans face regardless of gender: PTSD, unemployment, difficulty adjusting to civilian life, etc.

Due to a pressure for women to take whatever they're given without complaint, they are obtaining injuries from problems that could easily be fixed. Women who work in the police force have bulletproof vests that fit their shape. And because women are typically smaller than men, making uniforms that fit would actually take less material and therefore be less expensive. So why are we expecting women to perform the same tasks as men when the equipment they are given actually prevents them from doing their duty? We shouldn't allow the brave women who fight for our country to suffer from these problems, some of which can be easily solved.