Should We Lower the Bar for Women?

[Kuan]

I am a firm believer in equal rights, and equal opportunity. Yet, there is a time when our pursuit in this path bothers me. There are jobs were the requirements are high physically. Such as the military, and firefighters. Since these jobs are strenuous and dangerous, there are physical tests that people need to pass in able to join. These tests should be equal right, but we lower our standards for women.

Is it fair for women to be given easier tests when applying for these jobs?

Secondary question: Isn't this not fair? Wouldn't it be fair if the tests were the same for both guys and girls?

[Cathar1950]

Most women can shoot a gun, few can carry 200lb men through burning houses.

So we leave 'em in the firehouse to do the cooking and the cleaning and whatnot.

I sense we are about to learn just how well a woman can shoot a gun.

I say if a woman can compete with a man in physically taxing environments, they have a right to that job. Compete doesn't hafta mean outdo either, it simply means if they can perform to a certain x level, let 'em have at it. 'Specially when cost / benefit analysis may show women are the better choice.

I might be reticent to go into combat with some to many women, owing to their lesser physical stature, and certain femininely needs. But I'm here to tell ya, there's plenty I'd go into combat with for their intellectual ability.

Given it doesn't take that much to shoot why not? If if were hand to hand it would still depend upon ability as a big strong man can be bested by even a small child...

I recall thinking many decades ago that equality often meant making women act more like men rather then incorporate feminine values into the equation.

What we end up with is women raising top the top because they are as bad as men.
Maybe they need to raise the bar for men.

You think you are joking..but you are quite right!

On the one hand, when jobs require specific needs...such as ladder placing and ax wielding, then the job should go to those who can perform it, period.

However, the fact is that ladders and axes have been designed with men in mind, so it's a bit of a circular problem. Perhaps the solution isn't to lower the bar for women, but to examine what the top percentage of physically fit women should be able to physically handle, and then design equipment for them so that they can do the job. LIghter, stronger ladders. Axes made to fit.

When I was younger, I went deer hunting quite frequently with my Dad, my brother and my cousins. We all used bows...and there was no silliness about making me 'measure up to' the bow my brother could pull. I was 5'4", he was 6'...of course he could pull a longer bow with a higher weight. I still got more deer than he did, because even though he could pull the heavier bow, I could hit the target.

Firefighting is one of those professions where sheer physical prowess is important; the stronger you are, the quicker you are, the better you are. In cases like that, men are going to do better; that's biological fact, because men are, generally, taller and stronger than women.

However, a six foot amazon who can handle the weight is going to do better than a five foot seven inch man...so the bar isn't set against women; it's set for physical abilities.

Oh, as to soldiering (just chiming in here) 'marching in step' is something that is necessary, fun...and women do just fine at it. This is a situation where equipment should be designed with women in mind; that could only be an advantage to everybody, I'd think. Shoot, have you ever taken a good look at the "shining armor' all those medieval knights actually wore?

You are right on all accounts, I was joking to make a point, it is set up for men or males anyway.
Unfortunately we have evolved this way for millions of years with social status and all the condiments.

It might take us another million before we have evolved but our cultures can give us little nudges.

[Meow Mix]

Or we can just skip straight to the part where women rule and men cook our meals, do our laundry, massage our feet and shoulders, bring us drinks, and fan us in the hot sun.

Taking applications.

[dianaiad]

Or we can just skip straight to the part where women rule and men cook our meals, do our laundry, massage our feet and shoulders, bring us drinks, and fan us in the hot sun.

Taking applications.

??? I got there 37 years ago. Where have you been?

[Cathar1950]

Or we can just skip straight to the part where women rule and men cook our meals, do our laundry, massage our feet and shoulders, bring us drinks, and fan us in the hot sun.

Taking applications.

Having already had the job, not with you of course, I found some people you just can't make happy no matter what you do and they don't want anyone else to be happy either. A slave is only as good as the master. And doesn't make them feel like a slave. A master is only as good as the slave will allow.
They both need to quit their jobs and start having some fun.