The role of American women in combat has been ambiguous; while not being allowed in infantry combat roles, they can fly combat missions and handle artillery batteries. Americans in the latest Economist/YouGov Poll would let women serve in close combat, and by a margin of nearly two to one.
Pluralities of both men and women accept the notion of women in combat, though there is more opposition from men. Age matters: senior citizens divide 31% in favor and 32% opposed. Republicans also divide evenly: 40% in favor, 38% opposed.
Americans overwhelmingly want women in combat to choose to be there: those who favor women in close combat roles want the choice to be the woman’s, not the Army’s.
Full datasets for Economist/YouGov polls can be found here.
Photo source: Press Association
