Why a special ballistic vest for women Is necessary

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In 2012, Time Magazine named it the invention of the year: the female ballistic vest. This summer, female soldiers in the Netherlands will finally receive a model designed specifically for their bodies. How did the first ballistic vests look, and why is it important to have a version for women? In this article, I’ll tell you all about it.

Why a special ballistic vest for women Is necessary
Ballistic Vest for Women | Photo: Ministry of Defense, Netherlands

How ballistic vests work

The purpose of a ballistic vest, as the name suggests, is to protect the wearer from shrapnel, such as fragments from weapons. Unlike bulletproof vests, ballistic vests are not specifically designed to protect against bullets. However, they can offer some protection depending on the type of vest and the trajectory and speed of a bullet.

Ballistic vests are not a recent invention. The first vests were worn during the American Civil War in the 1860s. Back then, protection consisted of two heavy steel plates inserted into coat pockets. There were also models where four large plates were hung over the chest using a belt around the waist and metal chains over the shoulders.

During World War II, ballistic vests resembling modern designs were introduced. Colonel Malcolm C. Grow, Surgeon General of the U.S. Eighth Air Force in Great Britain, pioneered these vests. At the time, Royal Air Force crews used them for protection against flying debris and grenades launched by German forces. Today, various models are used worldwide in conflict zones.

 

Why a special ballistic vest for women Is necessary

While most soldiers worldwide are men, women have been allowed to serve in combat roles since World War I. During World War II, 500,000 women served in combat roles in Great Britain and Germany, and many were part of front-line units in the Soviet Union.

Why a special ballistic vest for women Is necessary
Photo left: Bulletproof vest in Korea (April 18, 1952) – National Museum of Health and Medicine | Photo right: Beverly Deepe Keever (March 1968) on a helicopter after returning from Khe Sanh, which was heavily bombed at the time (Battle of Khe Sanh).

Despite half a million women risking their lives during World War II, no separate ballistic vests were designed for them. Yet, it’s clear to the naked eye that a woman’s body is entirely different from a man’s.

A woman’s upper body has different proportions, including a distinct fat distribution. This means a ballistic vest designed for men doesn’t fit women properly, providing less protection. Moreover, women’s breasts are often compressed uncomfortably in male vests. In practice, ill-fitting vests make it harder for female soldiers to get in and out of vehicles, lift weapons, and squat, aside from the discomfort.

 

Finally, a special ballistic vest for women

It took over a century for women to receive a model tailored to their bodies. Although Time Magazine declared the female bulletproof vest the invention of the year in 2012, it still had to undergo testing. This wasn’t the first attempt: in 2010, the U.S. military assumed offering additional sizes would adequately protect women. The idea that women’s different body shapes require a unique design had apparently yet to be realized.

If you think women have been well-protected since 2012 with the new bulletproof vests, think again. In 2020, a law was passed in the U.S. mandating that female soldiers have the right to bulletproof vests. The law also required tracking injuries caused by ill-fitting equipment. Despite the availability of bulletproof vests, women often still had to wear male models.

In recent years, more countries have started addressing the need for female-specific ballistic and bulletproof vests. Romania announced plans to introduce them in 2017, and Ukrainian women finally received appropriately fitting models in 2023.

 

This year, Dutch women receive a special ballistic vest

In February 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense unveiled its new women’s ballistic vest. This vest had already been tested by special forces in recent years and met expectations. Now, all female soldiers will receive this vest. Initially, the Defense Ministry will order 1,530 units, with 30 allocated for research. This research will determine how best to integrate the vests into the existing gear.

Just like many forms of women’s workwear, ballistic and bulletproof vests still have a long way to go. The world of workwear and personal protective equipment is only beginning to understand women’s bodies. It’s a journey we’ve finally embarked on, though it will undoubtedly have its challenges. Fortunately, those challenges are as soft and feminine as the women they aim to protect. We’ll get there!

Best regards,
Aileen

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