Denmark Drafts Women: Rethinking Equality in Uniform

As Denmark becomes one of the few countries to conscript women into its military, the bold step raises a familiar question: what does equality really look like in practice? 

As of July 1^st, 2025, Danish women turning 18 are now required to register for military assessment days for potential army conscription of up to 11 months. Previously, military service was optional for women, with around 24% of the army being made up of them. This policy change aligns female obligations with male ones under a new defence model described by Denmark’s Ministry of Defence as a commitment to “full gender equality”.  

But whilst this is equality in principle, what does it look like in uniform?  

A Progressive Step – Or a Misstep?  

Denmark, which currently ranks third in the European Union for gender equality, is no stranger to bold moves in pursuit of parity.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared that “increased gender equality will create a modern and more diverse defence.”  

In theory, this seems like progress. If men must serve, so should women. The logic is straightforward – but the implications are far from simple.  

When Equality Ignores Difference  

The military remains one of society’s most physically and culturally rigid institutions. While inclusion is essential, uniform policies can obscure crucial differences. Ground combat is a key example, where significant strain will be placed on the body, and biologically women are less likely to possess the same physical tolerance or injury resilience as men. However, Denmark’s armed forces acknowledge this reality, with ongoing efforts to adapt barracks and equipment to better suit female recruits.  

But gender equality isn’t about modifying bunk beds. It’s about rethinking what national service entails – and whether parity means sameness or fairness.  

Rethinking Standards, Not Lowering Them 

A common critique of drafting women is the fear that combat standards will be lowered to accommodate biological differences. But this assumes that military value lies solely in brute strength – an outdated metric in an era of technological warfare, cyber defence and other logistics.  

Equality does not require identical performance in every physical task. Instead, it demands that everyone is held to standards that are relevant to the role they are performing. 

Global Shifts in Military Thinking 

Around the world, armed forces are beginning to shift their thinking. In the UK and Israel, gender-neutral tests are applied based on the demands of the specific roles rather than identity of the recruit. If the task requires a physical demand, then anyone in that role – woman or man – must be able to do it.  

It’s not about lowering the bar based on gender. It’s about defining the right bar – one that is fair, functional and reflective of modern military needs.  

Is the Military Still a Male Institution?  

Military culture has long been defined by hierarchy, toughness and stoicism – values traditionally associated with masculinity. While reforms are occurring, many women in service still report feeling like outsiders in a male-dominated space. Equal entry does not automatically create equal experience.  

And while Denmark deserves credit for recognising women as full participants in civic life, some argue that copying male responsibilities without adapting their frameworks risks replicating gendered injustices rather than dismantling them.  

Equality Reimagined  

If Denmark is to lead by example, it must do more than simply draft women into the same systems that have historically excluded them. It must ask deeper questions: How do we honour physical and cultural differences without compromising fairness? Can we design a form of national service that is inclusive, flexible and empowering? 

Because equality shouldn’t mean copying men. It should mean building a system where everyone has the opportunity to succeed at the demands required.  

References 

Kleiderman, A. (2025, July 1). Danish women to face conscription by lottery. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1e0094n5d3o 

Little, T., & Gronholt-Pedersen, J. (2025, July 1). Denmark expands military service to include women. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/denmark-expands-military-service-include-women-2025-07-01/ 

Marsden, H. (2024, April 16). The issue of women and conscription. The Week. https://theweek.com/defence/the-issue-of-women-and-conscription 

Timsit, A. (2025, July 3). Denmark takes rare step of adding women to draft amid Russia war fears. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/07/03/denmark-military-service-draft-conscription-women/