Re: Taboo Topics (Heavily moderated)
Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:52 am
Here's a bit directly related to the military that's a little more relevant to modern society than the draft.
For the APFT, which is supposed to test the physical fitness of soldiers throughout the army/army guard, the female standard is considerably lower than that of males.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/a/afpt.htm
For the 17-21 age group (because it's directly related to me), I have to do 46 push-ups 53 sit-ups, and run the 2-mile in 15:54 or less. A female in the same age group only has to do 19 push-ups and run the 2-mile in 18:54.
The usual defense for this is "well females are build differently and weaker to men!" Not only should that be inherently insulting to females (including the ones who will automatically use it as a defense), but that completely ignores the entire point of the test. It's to make sure you're physically able to deal with the physical stresses involved with the United States military. Anyone who even has relatives in the military will tell you that. So when I barely fail with a 16 minute 2 mile, and a female barely passes with an 18:50 two mile, you tell me who's more physically capable of dealing with the stresses of a military career. Me, who failed, or her, who passed? It's a 2:50 minute difference in my favor, yet because of difference in standards, I'm the one who's deemed "physically unfit."
What's more is females are excluded from MOSes that'd put them directly in combat. Those are restricted for males. The closest a female can get to being in combat is by being an MP, which, if you ask any of the females in my unit, 90% of them will tell you that that's exactly why they chose to be an MP.
These are things most females in the armed forces hate to death, and most males resent.
For the APFT, which is supposed to test the physical fitness of soldiers throughout the army/army guard, the female standard is considerably lower than that of males.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/a/afpt.htm
For the 17-21 age group (because it's directly related to me), I have to do 46 push-ups 53 sit-ups, and run the 2-mile in 15:54 or less. A female in the same age group only has to do 19 push-ups and run the 2-mile in 18:54.
The usual defense for this is "well females are build differently and weaker to men!" Not only should that be inherently insulting to females (including the ones who will automatically use it as a defense), but that completely ignores the entire point of the test. It's to make sure you're physically able to deal with the physical stresses involved with the United States military. Anyone who even has relatives in the military will tell you that. So when I barely fail with a 16 minute 2 mile, and a female barely passes with an 18:50 two mile, you tell me who's more physically capable of dealing with the stresses of a military career. Me, who failed, or her, who passed? It's a 2:50 minute difference in my favor, yet because of difference in standards, I'm the one who's deemed "physically unfit."
What's more is females are excluded from MOSes that'd put them directly in combat. Those are restricted for males. The closest a female can get to being in combat is by being an MP, which, if you ask any of the females in my unit, 90% of them will tell you that that's exactly why they chose to be an MP.
These are things most females in the armed forces hate to death, and most males resent.