Rape In the Military Does the military meet society's needs, or does it perpetuate gender inequality? The military has been a male-dominated institution since its inception. The 18th and 19th centuries saw women being used in the service of armies, but only as camp followers. Women have served as nurses since the beginning of organized warfare, and many other women have volunteered to serve in support roles as cooks and laundresses. Before World War I (Ret&Strite Murnane,17), women were not..Readmore