Women in the Army։ Breaking Stereotypes and Restoring Order

08.08.2024

What do women think about the introduction of the law on voluntary military service?

Women in the Army։ Breaking Stereotypes and Restoring Order

Armenian society has long been marked by a clear division of gender roles. Traditionally, women have been associated with qualities like gentleness, sensuality, and nurturing, while men have been linked with traits such as efficiency, pragmatism, independence, and strength. Women have typically been tasked with caring for the family and managing the household, while men have been expected to work outside the home and maintain dominance within the family. While military service has been widely viewed as a standard path for men, there has always been skepticism surrounding women’s involvement in the military. Despite this skepticism, experts acknowledge several positive aspects of women serving in the armed forces. Since the establishment of the Armenian army, women have volunteered for military service, though the majority served in administrative roles. In July 2023, a new law was passed allowing women to serve in the military voluntarily.

Text : Armine Martirosyan
Photo : RA Ministry Of Defense


Who fits into a military uniform?

Women aged 18 to 27 are eligible to apply for military service in Armenia. The service is voluntary and lasts six months. Upon completion, women receive a one-time payment of 1 million drams. In case of early discharge due to health reasons, this amount is prorated according to the months served. During their service, women are also paid a regular salary. Women are assigned to a specific military unit without drawing lots or the possibility of subsequent transfer. Special conditions are arranged for them in the barracks, where a separate room in one of the training units is designated for women, which will eventually evolve into a women’s battalion, with the prospect of creating a women’s regiment. The command staff for these units will also consist of women.

Women who complete their military service will be enrolled in the reserves and can be called upon if needed. There’s precedent for all-female military formations in Armenia. According to the RA Ministry of Defense, in 2017, an all-female platoon was formed to participate in NATO peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Additionally, Armenia deployed an all-female peacekeeping battalion as part of the UN mission in Lebanon.

 

Israeli experience

Conscripting women for military service is common in several countries, such as Israel, North Korea, Taiwan, Greece, Myanmar, Malaysia, Eritrea, Norway, and Sweden. Unlike in Armenia, where women’s military service is voluntary, these countries mandate military service for women. However, even in these nations, there are several exceptions. For example, although women in Israel are required to serve, about two-thirds receive deferments or exemptions from military service due to pregnancy or religious reasons. Additionally, after completing their military service, most women in Israel are not required to undergo annual military training.

Women’s involvement in the Israeli army dates back to the War of Independence in 1948, when the country faced significant threats, and women played a crucial role in defending Israel. However, after the war ended, women largely ceased participating in combat operations. Today, most women in the Israeli military serve in non-combat units. While mandatory military service for women exists in many countries, their roles and levels of engagement in direct combat vary widely.

 

 

The doors of military universities are open to women

According to the former press secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Artsrun Hovhannisyan, in 2014, the number of female contract workers in the Armenian Armed Forces exceeded 20%. Women comprised 35-40% of administrative staff, communications personnel, and medical professionals. In 2012, the Armenian army had 1,400 women in service, which increased to 2,000 by 2017.

Armenian women could enroll in military educational institutions only in 2013 when the Vazgen Sargsyan Military University and the Military Aviation Institute opened their doors to women for the first time. According to official statistics, the participation of women in the Armed Forces rose from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, only three women entered military universities, but by 2016, this number had increased to 12. However, from 2017 to 2019, a decline was observed: six women entered military universities in 2017, four in 2018, and only three in 2019. Following this downturn, there has been a comparative increase in women’s participation in military institutions in 2020 as four women entered military universities, and in 2021, the number rose to five. 

 

 

A woman in the army — to order

Reserve Colonel Grigory Sahakyan acknowledges that the newly implemented system for integration has its positive aspects, though many details still require careful consideration and refinement. According to Sahakyan, if a woman wants to contribute to building the army, she should be able to do so. This would facilitate the full integration of women into all spheres of the country’s life. Sahakyan believes attracting women into the military and promoting their inclusion could positively impact the army. “Women are more efficient; they are usually workaholics.

In several specialized areas, they are easily trained, attentive, and disciplined, which is crucial,” he said. Sahakyan noted that women in the Armenian Armed Forces serve in branches like air defense and communications, where precision when transmitting information and attention to detail are highly valued, qualities that women tend to demonstrate. Women have recently begun joining the artillery ranks, though their numbers are still relatively low in infantry units. Accommodating women in the military poses some challenges. Here, the responsibility for creating conditions lies with the command staff.

According to Sahakyan, there’s a need to address specific issues related to military training and field operations, including providing separate facilities for women during exercises. Additionally, it is crucial to consider the marital status of female servicemen. “Regarding physical activity, Sahakyan stated that there should be no significant issues, as specialized standards for women are quite achievable. Physical exercise is essential to ensure endurance and the capability to perform various functional tasks,” Sahakyan concluded.

 

  

 

Patriarchal stereotypes

Military psychologist Khachatur Gasparyan views women’s service in the army as a natural progression and believes that, in many situations, women can be irreplaceable. “The idea of a “female soldier” hasn’t yet taken root in our national consciousness due to patriarchal stereotypes, cultural, national, and ethno-psychological characteristics of our society. We should look at it from a broader perspective. Don’t think that a female soldier defends the border from dusk till dawn with a machine gun in her hand. There are many other roles in the army where a woman can be precious,” Gasparyan noted.

Gasparyan suggests that times are changing, stereotypes are being broken, and women themselves want to be equal with men in all areas of life. While society may initially be skeptical about women’s military service, he believes it will eventually become a norm. However, he thinks it is too soon to consider compulsory military service for women. “There are processes that take time,” he noted. Gasparyan believes it’s wrong to determine someone’s abilities based on gender, emphasizing that individuals have varying levels of responsibility. Although some studies suggest that women are more pragmatic than men, it’s wrong to say that women are more responsible than men just because they are women.  

 

Men pulling up next to women

It’s often believed that a woman can feel secure near a man in military uniform due to the perceived illusion of complete protection. But what impact do women in uniform have on the men serving alongside them? Narine Aghajanyan, a 33-year-old veteran of three wars in Artsakh, asserts that men tend to feel more successful and responsible when serving with women in the army. Narine has been with the Artsakh Defense Army since 2015. Initially, she served in an air defense unit in Shushi and later moved to posts near the village of Shosh, where she faced the 2020 war.

After the war, Narine attended specialized courses and transitioned to artillery, eventually becoming a platoon commander and a gun commander with the rank of lieutenant. “When the war started in September 2023, I was the only woman at our combat post, and everyone knew how skillfully I handled the gun. We did our job 100 percent,” she recalls. Narine acknowledges that not all women are suited for military service, as army rules are not for everyone.. Her role, responsibilities, and workload were no different from those of her male counterparts. She notes that there were only four women like her in the entire army, and many women couldn’t handle the demands of traveling to combat positions (sometimes staying in the same position for months) or enduring combat alerts. Thus, they were transferred to easier positions. “A person’s character is largely shaped by their love for their country and military service, and by how much courage they possess. People often tell me that I alone am worth 100 men,” Narine shares.

“Women in the military, especially those on the front lines, are always treated with respect by their fellow soldiers. This is a special honor in the eyes of the men,” Narine adds. Everyone strives to create the necessary conditions for a woman and support her, and the men take on a special responsibility for her. “I have never seen anyone look askance at a woman taking a position.”

 

 

Women are more responsible

Narine asserts that women generally have a greater sense of responsibility than men. They deal with the same task more meticulously and efficiently, complete it more promptly, and assist male colleagues with things like record-keeping, journal writing, and note-taking. “When it comes to keeping records, no man can compare with a woman. And this is one of the most important duties in the army. That is why women can be specifically appointed to relevant positions,” she explains. However, when it comes to moving out to the positions, men are ahead of women, often assisting women with the duffel bags.”Somewhere, this is an extra burden for men,” says Narine. 

“In my platoon, during the war of 2023, there were two signalmen who not only performed their primary duties but also handled secondary tasks, including those of an economic nature. Where there is a woman, there is always perfect order. We always had breakfast, lunch, and dinner on time, while in other units without women, the men often made do with canned food,” Narine points out. 

 

Love of uniforms should be voluntary

Narine’s family was always against her serving in the army, especially when she switched to artillery, which she describes as “a bit more serious, with constant trips to combat positions.” However, her attachment to the army was stronger, and her parents had to come to terms with her decision.

Despite her commitment to the military, Narine opposes compulsory military service for women. She believes that service should be voluntary, noting that when given a choice, many women are more likely to express a genuine desire to serve their country. “Forced service can’t yield effective results, especially for women.”

 

The 2020 War Has Changed Attitudes

Goar Babayan has spent 28 years in the rear service. As a military doctor, she usually encounters the everyday life of the army only during business trips. “I’m used to seeing female servicemen in military units—not just logisticians—but it’s still a bit strange for me,” she says. The working hours are irregular, most communication is with men, there’s the need to endure a commanding tone, and the rules are rigid. “I find many things about this service, like marching on the parade ground and other regulations, not very rational. Maybe it’s because I’m not a military person at heart, and I still can’t quite get past this psychological barrier,” Goar admits. However, the Artsakh war, with its consequences of lost territories and the ethnic cleansing of Armenians, has shifted her perspective, especially when it comes to introducing voluntary military service for women in the army. 
“If you’d asked me before 2020 whether women should join the army, I would have categorically said no. But now, with Armenia facing the threat of destruction, if this law isn’t a fraud or a show, then I will say that women should also serve in the army. This is about preserving the nation, and in this case, I think there’s no need to set gender restrictions. We have no other choice,” Goar Babayan notes.
 

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