It is one thing to allow women to hold support roles in the military, but quite another to place them in the field of combat. This is unfair to women, unfair to men, and unfair to the nation that has deployed them.

Bill Muehlenberg, Heathmont
http://www.theage.com.au/text/2011/04/14/

I believe that there is a physical and emotional difference between the sexes. I am surprised this difference is not recognised in the highest places.

Major-General Alan Stretton (ret), Batemans Bay, NSW
http://www.theage.com.au/text/2011/04/13/

Abridged response published

Women already on front line in Europe

IN THE past two days The Age has published letters by men who seem to think women are unfit for combat roles (13/4; 14/4) due to physical and psychological reasons of sexual difference.

These sexist claims seem unaware of the wealth of contemporary studies, experience from other countries and historical evidence. Women are already involved in combat roles throughout continental Europe, and in Israel, Canada and New Zealand, and in artillery roles in the US and the UK armed forces.

And for those who still claim that women are unable to fight: how did Jeanne d'Arc cope?

Lev Lafayette, Kew

http://www.theage.com.au/text/2011/04/15

Full version

Dear editor,

For the past two days The Age has published letters by men who seem to think that women are unfit for combat roles (Bill Muehlenberg, Heathmont and Major-General Alan Stretton (ret), Batemans Bay, NSW).

Apparently for physical and psychological reasons of sexual difference women are only suited for support roles. Apparently the difference between the sexes is so absolute than differences within a sex are ignored. Because women are, on average, are shorter and less upper body strength therefore all women are shorter and have less upper body strength than the average man. Apparently a woman is less able to lift and fire a gun, drive a tank, think tactically or follow orders.

Apart from being ignorant of basic statistics, these sexist claims seem unaware wealth of contemporary studies, experience from other countries and historical evidence. Women are already involved in combat roles in the armed forces throughout continental Europe, in Israel, in Canada, in New Zealand and in artillery roles in the U.S. and the UK armed forces.

For those who still claim that women are unable to fight, answer this: How did Jeanne d'Arc cope?

Yours sincerely,

Lev Lafayette
Kew, Victoria