The Role of Women in the MilitaryWomen have always played an important role in the United States military over the years; although in the early years they were not allowed to enlist, they still performed some vital tasks for the army. However, the roles played by women have often been limited to certain tasks. In the past, women were limited in what they were allowed to do, but more and more opportunities are opening up to them as times change and women continue to fight for equal opportunities. rights. Over the years, women have had to overcome many cultural views about the roles women are expected to play, in order for them to be accepted into the military. Women have often been stereotyped as weaker than their male peers, and in previous years, the tasks expected of women were those of a housewife. Serving in the military was not culturally acceptable, although women still played very important and vital roles for the military. During the Revolutionary War, women often had to take over their husband's duties. They often had to run their husband's businesses and perform many other tasks that were considered a man's job. The increasing responsibilities that women were expected to shoulder helped pave the way for their acceptance into the military. Women proved they were capable of performing the tasks of their male peers, which helped open doors to military service. Women began to be accepted into the military after the establishment of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901, but they often played significant roles. roles since the American Revolution. Deborah Sampson is a very memorable woman who played a role in the American War of Independence. She entered the Continental Army...... middle of paper ... with more acceptance by her male peers. Works CitedArmor, David J. “Race and Gender in the U.S. Military.” Armed Forces and Society: An Interdisciplinary Journal 23.1 (1996): page 7. Military and Intelligence Database Collection. Internet. April 28, 2014.Cogliano, Francis D. Revolutionary America, 1763-1815: A Political History. London: Routlege, 1999. EBSCOhost eBook Collection. Internet. April 26, 2014. Coughlin, Anne M. and Blake Points. “Women and the Army.” Iris: A Journal on Women (2002): page 39. Literary Resource Center. Cengage Learning Web. April 22, 2014. “Sampson, Deborah. » Britannica Biographies (2012): 1. MasterFILE Premier. Internet. April 22, 2014. Segal, Mady Weschler. “Women's Military Roles Nationally: Past, Present, and Future.” » Gender and society. Flight. 9, No. 6 (December 1995) pp. 760. Sage Publications, Inc. jstor.org. Web ezproxy. April 28 2014.