I'm All For Equality But...

[ChillDoubt]

this is a step too far IMHO:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27331365

Females can carry out just about every job there is in HM Forces but infantry soldier/Special Forces is not and should not be one of them.
Maybe a handful would be up to the physical and mental challenge but there are extremes of situation and circumstance that females are just not suited for.

Opinions?

[kvalidir]

Lots of armies have females in the front line, I think they're very suited to it. I do think there might be some issues of them being a liability because their male colleagues might be over protective of them and behave differently towards them, but other than not I think it's non event.

[Old_Geezer]

A case of "We're equal, except for this, and this and ..." ?

I'm unsure any are up to that sort of stressful situation, they just do their best.

[pixie373]

I think you're right- it would only be a handful. The only way to find out which, would be to accept and interview though. It would be unfair to van anyone just for being female from the start. Individuals are different- but so are the sexes.
og, i think you've mistaken "equal" for "identical".

[Canary42]

Seeing the streets at nightclub turnout I'd say women are the more vicious fighters, so get them in the Forces front line pronto.

[237SJ]

If American/Canadian/Israeli women can do it then I don`t see why UK female soldiers can`t do it. They are not a different species. I remember (in the early 80s) an RAF flying instructor telling me that females were not capable of flying fast jets. Time proved that he was wrong. I suspect time will prove that female UK soldiers are up to the job.

[woofgang]

whenever I hear "I am all for equality but"....then I know I am going to hear from someone who is not all for equality. If women can pass the entrance tests then what is your problem? If women can't pass the entrance tests then what is your problem?

[kvalidir]

You can safely disregard anything that precedes 'but' in a sentence very often:)

[woofgang]

its like "I am not racist, some of my best friends are coloured"....

[Old_Geezer]

No, I know the difference between equal and identical and I know when folk try to excuse one by claiming the other.

[woofgang]

excuse? so equality needs an excuse now?

[pixie373]

//2Avatar Image
Old_Geezer

A case of "We're equal, except for this, and this and ..."//

so what did this mean? Women are different, so not equal?

[treetops68]

WW 2 belies your assumptions, ChillDoubt, as some of them were superior in all ways to their male counterparts.

[woofgang]

dive buddy, has this resulted in a less safe and efficient fire service?

[humbersloop]

"but" is a great qualifier Chill, as in everything before "but" is ballhooks

what's your evidence for //is not and should not// and //just not//?

genuine question, to clear the ground for debate

[Zacs-Master]

My opinion is that your opinion is very old fashioned and not a little bit sexist.

[humbersloop]

ever done industrial firefighting training divebuddy, or sea survival?

[ChillDoubt]

Let's not use WW2 as an excuse(I take it you mean all-female Russian units etc), we are now talking about wars and conflicts in the 21st century where soldiers are mutilated and sometimes beheaded, which subsequently sees such acts broadcast worldwide via various media.
The goalposts have moved 180 degrees since WW2.
It's not conventional warfare anymore, it's largely about anti-terrorist and counter insurgency operations.

As an ex infantry soldier I can recall situations where for want of a better phrase some skull thumped others and physically manhandled their colleagues in order to get them to switch on and start performing at optimum.
Wouold that be tolerated? How many would feel that they weren't able to carry out such actions in extremis when warranted as a result of gender?

In Crossmaglen SF Base there was an area where the troops rested/slept. It was called 'The Subs' because it resembled a submarine, a small walkway with 8 bunks either side. It was roughly 24 feet long, 10 feet wide, 12 feet. I can't imagine the problems that 1 female alongside 15 males would have caused.

Moving on to the present day, we see young Servicemen minus limbs on an almost daily basis. How will the mood change if we start to see ever increasing numbers of females in the same situation? Move that on to the present. What will be the next conflict that we will become embroiled in? Doubtless it'll involve Islamic militants/terrorists. What will be the mindset if a female befalls the same fate as this poor lad?:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-soldier-highlander-scott-mclaren-1089061

Would we be able to stomach the torture and defiling of a female Servicewoman from the FEBA(Forward Edge Of Battle Area) being broadcast all over the internet by said insurgent group? In all probability they would target such an individual, were she spotted.

It's a dreadful sight when we see our Servicemen repatriated in Union Jack covered coffins, what will be the mood of the general public be when it's females in ever increasing numbers?