Am I the only one who thinks it's unfair that only men have to go to the army?

No, you aren't the only one. People will believe you are a pansy, though. It's always been the man's role in society to take on the riskier occupations. Women have historically been more important to the survival of our species as nurturers of the next generation. Men are the more expendable gender.

It seems more fair if you consider you'll never have to go through the pain of child birth or the inconvenience of monthly bleedings from your groin.

Two questions here

1) Forced military training. Greece is not the only country with forced military training. The training is given to strengthen the population not for war, but in terms of character and discipline. You may not agree with it, of course, but you live in a democratic country, where the majority of people have voted to allow this activity to continue. Is this right or wrong? I don't know, and you don't know...you may feel inconvenienced by such a law, sure; or you may find something to gain from this experience.

2) Women in conscription. Women are physically weaker, have biological issues that make such training not reasonable for some people/countries. I would suggest that while men and women are ideologically equal, they are physically and emotionally quite different. Men are configured for strength, teamwork and aggression, and women configured for caring and calming. Of course this is a GROSS generalisation...but it forms the basis of why women might not be subject to the same laws as men.

I live in America, so mainly, I was surprised that you had obligatory military conscription. Sucks....Anyway, I see what you're saying, but I disagree with you. Men are naturally more athletic and stronger, and that's why we dominate the world. I guess women should be obligated to do other services related to the military though if men are.

The thing is, Greece doesn't need a military. You shouldn't want females to join, you should want Greece to dismantle it's military and spend that money in public works instead.

nope I do not agree with you, if 9 months is too horrid for you to bear then do like many others have done and flee the country. BUT imho it seems that you are more worried about the training being too hard and tough for you, so maybe you should let a girl go in your place.

No I do not. There is a certain yin and yang about men and women. We men fulfill our role. Women fulfill theirs. EVEN if we struggle to erase those differences? They are still always there. Women are welcome to help protect home and hearth in military service. Voluntarily. I think it right, that when duty calls, we men go forth willingly. Even if we can not go cheerfully.

Equal does not mean fair and balanced necessarily. In all things. It means equally important roles too. So, do your part. Your sister will do hers. Both equal in import.

Obligatory conscription is bad in any situation. They're training you so you can be conscripted if they want you to fight. Personally, my advice would be to jump ship and move to somewhere that isn't at war.

@Connie: I think in Greece's case it's because they're still technically at war with Turkey.

I agree, and I'm a girl! It should be everyone or no one! I don't live in Greece, but I feel sorry for you (about the army thing, and also the economy's collapsing).

It's sexist, is what!

Ασε τους φλωρους τα αμερικανακια να λενε ο,τι θελουν... το θεμα ειναι οτι πρεπει σε περιπτωση που μπει η χωρα σε πολεμο να υπαρχουν στρατιωτες που μπορουν να πολεμησουν. εγω θα καταταχθω σε τεσσερα χρονια και δεν ξερω, αλλα ο πατερας μου μου λεει πως περασε τρομερα. αν εσυ το βλεπεις σαν χασιμο χρονου, τοτε σκεψου οτι τοτε κανανε 4 χρονια! οι γυναικες μπορουν να καταταγουν, αλλα δεν ειναι υποχρεωμενες. εμεις κανουμε στρατο, αυτες κανουν παιδια! επεισης σκεψου οτι σε περιπτωση πολεμου θα μπορεις να πολεμησεις για την Ελλαδα. αν νομιζεις οτι ειναι ΑΠΙΘΑΝΟ να γινει πολεμος πριν κλεισεις τα 44, τοτε να σε ενημερωσω πως ο τελευταιος Ελληνο-Τουρκικος πολεμος ηταν το 1996 και διηρκησε 24 ωρες. η αφορμη του πολεμου ηταν οι λεγομενες βραχονησιδες των Ινιων. αν θες πληροφοριες για τον πολεμο αυτο, βγαλε αλλη ερωτηση! διαλεξε την απαντηση μου, παρακαλω!