Female soldiers march into history

By Li Xiaokun (China Daily) Updated: 2011-08-17 08:19

Soldiers of the Second Artillery Force install the empennage (the tail assembly) in the missile before launching it. [Photo/Xinhua]

'They can do it'

Now Chen Qin and her teammates have added to the list.

Women perform as well as, or even better than, men of the same age worldwide, said Chen, the research fellow. "Besides, the forms of wars are changing dramatically. As it is often said, men are no stronger than women in front of screens. The increase of females in combat positions goes right in line with the tendency."

Yao Yunzhu, director of a military research department at the academy, becomes uncomfortable when reading reports that advocate women's role in combat should be "soothing and encouraging male soldiers mentally".

"I've read too many reports describing young women as 'flowers in the military' through the years. Why is that? The women are no amusement to male soldiers; they're not assigned there to improve men's living environment. It's humiliating," said Yao, a senior colonel with a high reputation in PLA's academic circle.

"They do the job just because they can do it, and even better than men."

She noted that the status of women was raised "overnight" with the birth of the People's Republic of China in 1949, but some hiring companies still ask only for male graduates and some colleges demand higher entry scores for women. More effort is needed to produce gender equality in civilian China, she said.

The atmosphere in the PLA is much better, Yao said. She has spent 31 years in her career, starting as an ordinary soldier. She mentioned Rear Admiral Xu Lili, a 59-year-old vice-president of the academy, as another example of the military as a mature and healthy career path for women.

Still, she said, to succeed in the military, women should first forget their gender.

"Don't assume you have superiority because you are a woman. What you boast should be your capability but not your identity, and that is also the fundamental way for complete women's liberation."

Li Yongfei contributed to this report.