ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of women in warfare in the United States from 1950 to 1999

Okay, so let's talk about how women were involved in fighting for the United States from 1950 to 1999. For a long time, people thought that women should only do certain jobs and that fighting was a man's job. But over time, laws and rules changed, and more opportunities opened up for women.

In 1950, women weren't allowed to serve in combat roles, which means they weren't allowed to be in the part of the military where they would fight directly with the enemy. Instead, they could do jobs like being nurses, secretaries, or helping with supply lines.

But in the 1970s, laws started to change. Women were allowed to join the military and could do more jobs than before. Some women even went to war zones as reporters and photographers to document what was happening.

In the 1980s, more opportunities opened up for women. They could attend military academies like West Point, where they would train to become officers. Women were also allowed to fly military planes and serve on ships.

During the 1990s, women played a bigger role in the military than ever before. They were now allowed to take part in some combat roles, like flying fighter jets and attack helicopters. They also served on the front lines of some missions, like the Gulf War in 1991.

But even though women were gaining more opportunities, they still faced challenges. Some people didn't think women should be allowed in combat roles because they thought it was too dangerous. Others didn't think women were strong enough to do the job. But many women proved them wrong and showed that they were just as capable as men.

So in the timeline of women in warfare in the United States from 1950 to 1999, we see that women went from being limited in what they could do in the military to having many more opportunities open to them. It wasn't always easy, but women showed that they were ready to serve their country in whatever way they could.