---
title: "Strong Support for Lifting Ban on Women in Combat Roles"
description: "Two-thirds of the public support the Pentagon’s decision to lift the ban on women in combat roles, including roughly equal numbers of men and women."
date: "2013-02-21"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/02/21/strong-support-for-lifting-ban-on-women-in-combat-roles/"
---

# Strong Support for Lifting Ban on Women in Combat Roles

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/01/1-29-13-2.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/29/broad-support-for-combat-roles-for-women/)

Most Americans support the military’s decision to lift restrictions on women in combat. Two-thirds (66%) support allowing women in the military to serve in ground units that engage in close combat; just 26% are opposed.

Majorities of nearly all demographic groups offer support for this. Notably, almost identical percentages of men (65%) and women (66%) support the change.

About three-quarters of Democrats (76%) support allowing women in combat roles, as do 65% of independents. Republicans also favor the change in policy, but by a narrower 55%-37% margin.

Older Americans are less supportive of the change in military policy than younger Americans. Among those 65 and older, 52% support the decision while 36% are opposed. By contrast, more than seven-in-ten of those younger than 50 (72%) support allowing women to serve in combat roles.

There is little difference in views among those who live in a household with someone who has served in the military and those who do not. Overall, 63% of those in veteran households favor the decision compared with 67% of those in non-veteran households. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/29/broad-support-for-combat-roles-for-women/)