The requirement that men but not women register for the draft is one of the last examples of overt sex discrimination written into our federal law. It’s time for that to change.
We support ending the draft altogether, but as long as the government requires young people to register, the rule should apply to everyone. Limiting Selective Service registration to men only might seem like a benefit to women, but it actually impedes women’s full participation in civic life. It sends a message that women are unqualified to serve in the military, regardless of individual capabilities and preferences. It reflects an outdated view that, in the event of a draft, women’s primary duty would be on the home front—and, on the flip side, that men are unqualified to be caregivers.