Even though the then Federal President and Commander-in-Chief Heinz Fischer could “well imagine” this ten years ago, Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner does not want to comment on it today. And otherwise, compulsory military service for women is not an issue in the armed forces – they rely on voluntary service throughout. Despite all the debates on gender equality, it seems to be a non-issue for politicians. According to a recent survey, however, a majority of the population would be in favor of extending compulsory military service to young women.
At the end of June, the daily newspaper “Der Standard” commissioned the Linz-based Market Institute to conduct a survey on how the population feels about this (see report). Institute Director David Pfarrhofer summarizes the results of the representative survey of 820 respondents: “Among men, around two thirds can imagine compulsory military service for women – among women, the majority are against it.” The most important findings in detail
“Compulsory military service in Austria currently applies to young men. How do you see this? Should compulsory military service also apply to young women or not?” (A four-stage answer option was provided here) 23% are “definitely in favor” – although there is also a clear division along gender lines here: 33% of male respondents, but only 14% of female respondents, want women to do military service. The age of the respondents does not play a role here. 29% are “rather in favor”, again men (32%) more so than women (27%). Voters from the ÖVP, FPÖ, Neos and (surprisingly) the Greens are particularly inclined to give this answer. 30% are “rather not in favor” – this category not only includes the largest group of female respondents (34%), but also a relative majority of SPÖ supporters. Finally, 18% “definitely do not” want women to have to join the army. However, only a quarter of women expressed this strong rejection.
The strongest pro argument was that “compulsory military service for women would ensure justice between men and women”. 55% agree with this to a greater or lesser extent – again, men agree more strongly than women. Conversely, the majority of women share a different view of justice: “Women have disadvantages in many areas of society (such as income), so it is fair that there is no compulsory military service for women” – among all respondents, 22% fully agree with this and a further 21% somewhat agree. The other arguments – such as better opportunities for management positions or easier access to other professional worlds – are also less convincing for women than for men. Conversely, the latter probably see a higher proportion of women in the army as making their own compulsory service more attractive. Little change to the result of the 2013 referendum*
“What is your position – are you more in favor of retaining general conscription or more in favor of introducing a professional army with volunteers?” In response, 57% were in favor of compulsory military service and 43% in favor of a professional army. In 2013, more than 59% were in favor of retaining conscription. However, it is clear that support for conscription increases significantly with the age of the respondents. In the group of 16 to 29-year-old voters, only 48% are in favor of conscription, compared to 72% of respondents over 60. And: the men surveyed are more in favor of compulsory military service than the female respondents. *As a reminder, the survey was dominated less by concerns about military defense capability and resilience than by the projected end of civilian service. Only the construction of civilian service as an alternative to military service makes an obligation to perform such service constitutionally permissible at all. 
Voluntary Social Year
The so-called “Voluntary Social Year” is also available to both genders as an option for public service and has been enshrined in the Federal Act on the Promotion of Voluntary Commitment (FreiwG) since 2012. It sets out the legal basis and framework conditions for the promotion of volunteering and regulates the social year as well as the memorial service and peace and social service abroad, to be completed at Recognized organizations – Freiwilligenweb. There are currently more than 1,100 predominantly young people on an FSJ assignment (fully insured, pocket money 250 euros/month). In the past, women were generally unable to take part because, for example, the memorial service was funded as part of recognition as civilian service. After an amendment, the legal protection also made it possible for women to do memorial service under social law and to receive family allowance up to the age of 24.
Example from a western or European country of the 1st world
“Every citizen of the state is generally obliged to the same extent to serve the defense of his fatherland for a certain period of time, regardless of origin or wealth.” This constitutional article establishes compulsory military service for women – but in Norway.
Norway : first NATO country with compulsory military service for both sexes (e-periodica.ch). Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen, Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2014: “Compulsory military service for women strengthens the armed forces. We now have twice as many candidates to choose from. This makes it easier to find motivated employees and suitable expertise for our diverse tasks and posts.” The introduction also received media coverage in this country at the time. When the first young Norwegian women had to enlist in 2016, Sibylle Hamann wrote a newspaper commentary entitled: “Austria must become Norway: Conscription for all!” Three years later – Hamann is now on the Green Party’s National Council list – this text was criticized at the Green Party’s national congress. Hamann defended herself, saying that she was “concerned with equal rights in all situations, which does not exclude the military”. But the position of the Greens is to abolish compulsory military service anyway.
