By Writu Bose:
“Have a think in your head what a fire-fighter looks like to you,” a class full of bright young toddlers were asked. “He is big and strong,” one of the girls replied with a tinge of assertion in her voice. All her friends too had various images in their minds. All unique in their own ways but sharing the common factor of ‘he’ and ‘strong’.
Children do have their imagination running free and wild. But that is often shaped by what they see, learn and absorb. In our society where gender bias is so pervasive and easily accepted, kids inculcate certain ideas. We are hence, producing a brand of gender-insensitive people by not taking action.
Watch this kindergarten school in UK address the issue in the simplest yet most efficient and powerful way. Plus, the glitter in the eyes of a bunch of munchkins is not something you would want to miss!
Truth
The tests for a female firefighters are made easier, but that does not mean at the scene people, doors, equipment, hose, etc will become lighter. If a fire breaks out and your family members are stuck, would you have a male or female firefighter rescue them? Same is the case in the police, army, and other such professions. Face it, men are physically stronger, and better suited to work strenous jobs.
The Hulk
Having women in the workforce, especially where heavy lifting is required, is downright ridiculous. Can a woman carry 130 lbs of gear running up and down 5 flights of stairs, kneeling and standing, and engaging an enemy less than 5 meters away? There are some female can do 40-50 pushups and outrun males, but think about it. They weigh like 125 lbs while males weigh around 180-200 lbs. Can they bench press 200lbs? No. They are weak. When I went to basic training, 95% of the females fell out of a 16k ruck march. Out of those who made it, none of them carried a crew-served weapon such as machine guns and AT4s. We don’t want to risk a mission because females can’t climb a steep mountain for 25 km. Also females can’t carry extra weight such as rockets, and machine guns and heavy gear so those gear needs to be distributed among the remaining males, further burdening the males. It’s a fact, females are a lot weaker than males. Plus, they get pregnant and have to leave the unit for a year further burden the tasks on the remaining males. Males can roll around in the mud and not take showers for 3 weeks, females will get infections and have to deal with their hygiene and periods. Period.