‘It is what it is’: Pete Hegseth’s big push to ban women from military without saying it outright
By Sep 30th, 2025, 4:29 pm
Pete Hegseth is tapping into his misogynistic side yet again by putting forth demands that can only be met by men with high standards. Yes, in 2025, that is what a person in power has the audacity to say out loud.
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Speaking to a gathering of generals and admirals on September 30, 2025, at Quantico, the United States Secretary of War declared that military personnel engaged in combat would henceforth be held to slightly different standards. They would need to fulfil certain criteria for being considered fit for their jobs. He declared:
“At my direction, each service will ensure that every requirement for every combat MOS [military occupational specialty], for every designated combat arms position, returns to the highest male standard only… because this job is life or death, standards must be met, and not just met — at every level, we should seek to exceed the standard, to push the envelope, to compete.”
To put it simply, Pete Hegseth is basically saying that he would not be hiring women in the military. What he says suggests that a particular segment of men alone can fulfil these strict conditions.
Hegseth’s statements and possible application of these standards will be a step backwards for women and women’s rights groups. Women have struggled for years for their rights, which include equal representation in public services. They have come a long way, with more women currently holding these positions. But this step could put everything back to square one, and it would be even harder to rise again, particularly under such discriminatory and derogatory terms.
Hegseth’s problematic comments did not stop at that. He continued to make unacceptable statements during his speech, further revealing his true feelings about women and women in positions of power. To downplay his previous statements and appear supportive of women as much as men, Hegseth said:
“If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. It will also mean that weak men won’t qualify — because we’re not playing games. This is combat. This is life or death.”
Sanchari Ghosh is a political writer for The Mary Sue who enjoys keeping up with what's going on in the world and sometimes reminding everyone what they should be talking about. She's been around for a few years, but still gets excited whenever she disentangles a complicated story. When she's not writing, she's likely sleeping, eating, daydreaming, or just hanging out with friends. Politics is her passion, but so is an amazing nap.
