Day of Guidance, Fifth Month, Sixth Year of the Current Reign
The Imperial Secretariat for the Armed Forces has officially announced the completion of its six month study on allowing women to serve in the uniformed services. The report, which was released last night to the news services, states that there would be no expected negative impact to the army's efficiency, either in combat or in the logistical support structure, to women serving alongside men. "Frankly, this report only confirms what we'd already expected," Prince Casir of the House Drakharn, the Grand Secretary and Marshal-General, said at a press conference this morning. "In a modern military, there is no reason not to expect women to be able to serve fully and equally alongside men in the Imperial Banners and the Fleet. "
The Imperial Banners and the fleets would be the latest services to be integrated. The Guards of the Cities and Countries were integrated in the reign of the Brilliant Emperor, and the Palace Guards have been open to women since the first year of the Loving Emperor's reign.
Some do not agree with the Marshal-General's stated position. Retired Field Marshal, the Marquis Vaikin Jai, late of the Second Blue Field Banner, has been a opponent of the proposed policy. "That preceding generations recognized the ability of women to serve in a position where their nurturing and caring tendencies could help protect society does not negate that women are intended for nurturing and caring, not marching on the battlefield. As I have repeatedly stated, Roanian women are smaller and weaker on average than men, and most will not be able to keep up in the training that the military should require. As well, it is the nature of men to protect women, and unit cohesion will suffer when soldiers disobey orders to protect their new squad-mates. Nature itself also contrives to show that women are intended to keep away from danger. We see that among the imperial auxiliaries, as well as in nature."
Our research service has since pointed out that among the Imperial Auxiliaries, female salamandri are in general larger and more powerful than males and make up the bulk of the Green Claw Host, while felinoids have been fully integrated since First Contact across all Imperial Banners, though none serve presently in combat roles. When asked for comment on these statistics, the Marquis declined to make a statement.
Other objections have come from across the field. The Dowager Lady Fu, current matron of the Contemplative Order, has led a long and vocal campaign against any such change since the proposal was first made. "To allow women to serve in roles intended for men will be a great insult to their feminine nature, and more damagingly, to the honor of their families and their sacred Ancestors, Eternal Blessings Upon Them. What man will want to marry a woman who has so disdained her true self as to dress up in male garb and fight? These women who wish to serve should be ashamed of themselves."
As we said in our report on the subject last week, the Celestial Master has not made an official statement, saying that it is not for the Temple to dictate the actions of the state in such matters, and that it is through experiences that we learn if something is or is not the right course. Imperial Chaplain Gon-Yo, however, has issued a public rebuke to the Dowager Lady Fu, stating that it is not for a layperson to interpret the wishes of the Ancestors, Eternal Blessings Upon Them, and that their wishes are private matters within their family.
The Imperial Palace has also not released a comment, though it is believed that The Glorious Empress, May She Reign For Ten Thousand Years, has been a supporter of the policy. Grand Vizier the Prince Radmiel has stated, though, that now that the report has come through, it will be judged by the cabinet, with recommendations made to The Glorious Empress, May She Reign For Ten Thousand Years.