Female Canadian infantry soldier in Afghanistan

[Springroll]

You seem to be arguing both sides of the coin. Should the CF be specifically targeting women, to "give them hope" [not a particularly well thought-of military method], or should the CF not be encouraging those [male or female!] that will likely have to be coddled? [I'm still blown away by a comment another thread about an infantry soldier with a "grass-allergy" chit - - WTF?! ]

I feel that they should be targetting women in their recruiting commercials and all, but not encouraging the high maintenance women.
Yes, it is great that they are writing about women in the field, but I would sooner like to read about those first females that joined the infantry back when it was still taboo....those are the women I want to read about.

 

[Pea]

You seem to be arguing both sides of the coin. Should the CF be specifically targeting women, to "give them hope" [not a particularly well thought-of military method], or should the CF not be encouraging those [male or female!] that will likely have to be coddled? [I'm still blown away by a comment another thread about an infantry soldier with a "grass-allergy" chit - - WTF?! ]

I could care less if there is a man or a woman on the recruiting commercial. It's not going to make me want to join if I see a bunch of females in the forces, and it's not going to deter me if I don't see them. It's a matter of if I want a career in the forces or not. I have never based if I should do something on whether or not other women are doing it. If I believe I can do it, then I am going to do it. I don't care what is or isn't between my legs. There will be men and women who join who can't "hack" it. The decision to join needs to be based on yourself as an individual, not what "all the other ladies are doing". Is this an extension to the whole going to the bathroom together thing?  I never understood that either.

And the spotlight on the female MCpl, well it didn’t inspire me any. It was another women in the forces, why is her role any more important than say, a female supply tech? They are both doing the job they want. (Next, let’s showcase Armyvern.. just because I think she’s cool.)

 

[Pea]

I feel that they should be targetting women in their recruiting commercials and all, but not encouraging the high maintenance women.
Yes, it is great that they are writing about women in the field, but I would sooner like to read about those first females that joined the infantry back when it was still taboo....those are the women I want to read about.

How would that work? "Sorry you look like you require too much maintenance with your manicure and all". If a recruiter ever said "I'm sorry you look too high maintenance, this probably isn't a career for you", I would be offended. It's not anyone's place to say whether or not someone can do something based on how they look. This is why one should research a career, instead of blindly jumping into it. If you've spent time learning about a career in the CF, then you will have a general idea of whether or not it will "suit" you.

 

[scoutfinch]

Please... kindly define a "high maintenance woman". :

With respect to the different recruiting standards for physical fitness men and women, I trust you are all aware that there are different standards for both AGE and GENDER such that older recruits have a less onerous standard than young recruits for both men and women?  Or does the different age standard not count as preferential treatment when applied to older men?

Instead of bitching about her getting a bit of spotlight, why don't we celebrate the fact that the CAF is getting positive attention?

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

7 - 10 days 
I can appreciate what you have to say.  Some like her some don't.  Just remember she didn't ask for the attention.

 

[scoutfinch]

I can appreciate what you have to say.  Some like her some don't. 

That doesn't make her specifically male or female.  That makes her human. 

(I don't know her.  I hear and agree with what you are saying.)

 

[GO!!!]

With respect to the different recruiting standards for physical fitness men and women, I trust you are all aware that there are different standards for both AGE and GENDER such that older recruits have a less onerous standard than young recruits for both men and women?  Or does the different age standard not count as preferential treatment when applied to older men?

And herein lies the problem.

If we were really serious about recruiting women, we would not have a different standard for them. I've spoken to my mother and wife about this, and they both said that this "turns them off" about the CF because it is an official admission that they (if they were to join) would be expected to perform to a lower standard right from the get-go.

 

[Armymedic]

this "turns them off" about the CF because it is an official admission that they (if they were to join) would be expected to perform to a lower standard right from the get-go.

Now there is an intersting thought....one standard for all. Not a bad idea.

Although who, I wonder, would whine about it first?

 

[HItorMiss]

My bet would be the Feminist lobby groups when the more rotund woman were unable to make the grade, followed by the Fat person group when we started to kick out those person's in uniform that can't walk 3 feet with out wheezing, let alone do the BFT or make 6.5 on the express test

 

[Jarnhamar]

I think the whole "targeting women in the CF!" stuff is garbage.

I see the posters or articles on the internet/DND home page and I just shake my head.

BFT and 6.0 on the shuttle run.
Pass it and welcome to the CF.
Fail it and thanks for comming out.

 

[Haggis]

And herein lies the problem.

If we were really serious about recruiting women, we would not have a different standard for them. I've spoken to my mother and wife about this, and they both said that this "turns them off" about the CF because it is an official admission that they (if they were to join) would be expected to perform to a lower standard right from the get-go.

So would a 36 year old male.
(http://www.rmc.ca/athletics/pe/EXPRES/standards_e.html)

 

[TCBF]

"I feel that they should be targetting women in their recruiting commercials and all, but not encouraging the high maintenance women."

- That's rather contradictory, what?

;D

Tom

 

[Pea]

"I feel that they should be targetting women in their recruiting commercials and all, but not encouraging the high maintenance women."

- That's rather contradictory, what?

;D

Tom

Exactly what I was trying to get at in my post too. Glad I am not the only one who thought that..

 

[QV]

So would a 36 year old male.
(http://www.rmc.ca/athletics/pe/EXPRES/standards_e.html)

Ah dude,  a 36 year old female has even lower standards.  3 on the MSR?  Are you kidding me?  7 push ups?  They must be done their PT test in about 5 minutes.  Or 19 pushups for that matter?  My 30 year old wife (civvy) can do 30 and she isn't even that fit.  Everyone should have to pass the same standard if you are doing the same job, period. 

I can understand that there are lower standards with age but a soldier is a soldier.  With the stupid Expres standards theoretically a 36 yr old male who can run to level 5 MSR and only do 13 pushups could be on his way out for not making the 14 pushup standard, but a 36 yr old female who can only run to level fricken 3 but can do all 7 pushups is good to go.  The male is more fit then the female (not by much however...) but the female is allowed to soldier on and the male is undergoing administrative action.  Something wrong there, especially so if both the male and the female have the exact same job.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Remember this isn't a military thing but also has/had roots in the police and fire dept

 

[armyvern]

And the spotlight on the female MCpl, well it didn’t inspire me any. It was another women in the forces, why is her role any more important than say, a female supply tech? They are both doing the job they want. (Next, let’s showcase Armyvern.. just because I think she’s cool.)

Aww shucks Card. I have been "interviewed" before....NO THANKS...not interested!! And I'd argue most of us serving females feel the same way. Problem is, when there's only one or 2 females involved in something or 'the first female' in something, the media gravitates towards that as "the story." It's not what the female or her fellow soldiers want, they just want to do their jobs the best they can.

They tend not to step into the spotlight but rather it is a case of having the spotlight thrust upon them.

I'd argue that if we actually had some huge Army of Amazon women out there in the world today with one lonely (?) male amongst them...he'd be the one the media would be interviewing too. "So hey whats it like to have to 'prove' yourself amongst this bevy of women?" 

 

[QV]

..... if we actually had some huge Army of Amazon women out there in the world today with one lonely (?) male amongst them.......

uh... you know that is not a bad notion after all.  Who gets to be the "lonely male"?  8)

 

[monika]

I'd argue that if we actually had some huge Army of Amazon women out there in the world today with one lonely (?) male amongst them...he'd be the one the media would be interviewing too. "So hey whats it like to have to 'prove' yourself amongst this bevy of women?" 

You do know you'll have volunteers lined up round the block, right? ;D

 

[TCBF]

"You do know you'll have volunteers lined up round the block, right?"

- Yeah, of guys who've never been MARRIED.  Just wait until a FULL MOON...

Tom

 

[Springroll]

How would that work? "Sorry you look like you require too much maintenance with your manicure and all".

lol...I should've elaborated more on what I meant by a high maintenance woman...sorry
Definitely was not referring to women who look like they could be, because when I scrub up I can look just the same...lol

What I was trying to describe was those women who seem to require someone to hold their hand all the way through their career. Constantly needing to be praised, rewarded etc. I have met many people like that from both sexes, but the majority are women. Almost like they aren't to sure if they should even be in the CF in the first place. Now I am not generalizing all women are like that, because I know that not all are.