Fire brigade relaxes strength and fitness test to make entry easier for women
Equality between men and women is a worthwhile thing to strive for. However, we must not confuse equality with being the same. There are biological differences between men and women, differences which give advantages towards strength and stamina. As the article points out the physical requirements to become a firefighter were lowered because it was found that "the old test used to discriminate against women".
I think it's is a mistake to lower standards in order to pander to a politically correct agenda, especially when those standards address life and death situations. The equality we as a society strive for is undermined if the standards are lowered just to make it easier for women to become firefighters.
1) You are in a burning building. Who would you rather be saved by? A person who passed the old test, which requires greater physical strength and endurance, or by a person who passed the second test?
2) Is it discrimination if women find it more difficult than men to pass a physical test?
1.) I would rather be rescued by a person who passed the old test, which required greater physical strength and endurance. However, the new,less demanding test is both easier for men and women. This means that less qualified men could also become members of the fire brigade.
ReplyDelete2.)No, I believe that 'real' equality should not take into account a person's gender. If the requirements to be a firefighter are too demanding of a female, then she is not qualified to be a firefighter. The same goes for a male who does not meet the requirements. These minimum requirements are set in place for the safety of the public. I do not agree with the fact that the standards are being lowered to satisfy gender equality in the workforce. Everyone(male or female)who wants to be a firefighter must meet the minimum physical requirements. If not, then they should not be a firefighter.
I agree with the fact that equality between men and women is a worthwhile thing to strive for. Although, lowering the physical requirement to become a firefighter in order for more females to be qualified for the job is not considered equality. If more men are capable of passing the old physical requirement test than women so be it. A firefighter is not an easy job; the old physical requirement test prepares the individual for everything that might happen in a fire. And lowering the test would not prepare the individual as much as the old test. So anyone who wants to be a firefighter male or female must pass the old test, or if they can’t then being a firefighter is not suited for them at all.
ReplyDelete1)If I am in a burning building I would be rather saved by a person who passed the old test because they would have a greater physical strength and endurance compared to the person who passed the second test.
2)No, I don’t think that it is discrimination if women find it more difficult than men to pass a physical test because not everyone has the same ability. Men and women are different, and their differences give them different and unique advantages. So lowering the physical requirement test due to the discrimination of women just lowers the minimum safety requirement set for the public.
Well I surely see your point that it is a fact, females and males both have different physical abilities. I believe I would rather be saved by the individual who passed the old test, male or female, it is just important that the person is capable and strong enough to save a life. Specifically looking at the endurance of the test, making it easier is not a good idea because both the women and men are being trained to save a life, and whether thats against harsh conditions or not, they should be trained in the best way they can be. Lowering the test would not be a good idea at all. A firefighter has an important, yet life risking job, and lowering the test for them is not only dangerous for who they are trying to save, but themselves as well. We have to remember that the main thing we want for our heroes is to come out safely in the best way possible and in doing so they must be prepared. That why I would want someone from the old test rather than the new one, life and death is not a matter one can compromise,it's something to be taken extreamly seriously. As for discrimination no of courser not. If a female finds the procedure to be more difficult than it is understandable. Both men and women have different physical abilities, and yes looking at it through a scientific point of view, males do have more body strength. Not in every case, there obviously can be a female who is stronger than a particular male. Although again lowering the test to make it easier is just unethical because it's a risk to the public and to the fire fighters themselves.
ReplyDeleteAs long as my life get saved, I actually do not care what tests the fireman pass. A person who passed the old test is not necessary have greater physical strength and endurance than a person who passed the second test. I think it depends more on the decision making of the fireman which it is the most important quality.
ReplyDeleteI do think it is discrimination against women for the physical tests. I believe that there are some standards in the physical test that is not too necessary for a requirement for a fire fighter. Females have better reflexes, it would be wrong to be put a stretch reflex requirement for a firemen. In my conclusion, the changes in the physical test was the right thing to do.
"But fire service bosses say the old tests did not accurately reflect the work of firefighters and that standards remain the same." - a quote from the article
ReplyDeleteBy making the fitness test slightly easier they are being reasonable, it's not like they are letting extremely weak people into the team. Not everyone in the team has to be capable of picking up 100kg, as stated above, some of the fitness training does not reflect the actual job of a firefighter. They are not reducing their standards to the extent that useless people get in, that's a misunderstanding. They are being realistic. With this reduced fitness plan, more and more females are able to get in(now that's equality!) as well as some of the weaker males but we don't need firefighters that are completely built and muscular. We need people that can get the job done. The fire brigade is not stupid. They won't let people who aren't capable of much, enter the team.
In response to your questions though Clarence,
it doesn't matter to me which test they passed as long as they passed a test.
And I don't feel that its discrimination if most women can't pass a physical test that men can pass. But I do think it's discrimination if the standards are so ridiculously high and aren't even necessary to get the job done.
Hmm…
ReplyDeleteIf I was in a burning building, I’d be thankful for the first person who reached me. Since current firefighters are vouching that the standards for the new test are not below the required level, I am not against the test being made easier so that more females can pass it.
There are physiological differences between men and women; and men are physically stronger (on average, not on a person-by-person basis). Quoting the article, ‘the old test used to discriminate against women.' Maybe the old standards were too stringent, more than what firefighters’ jobs require. In that case, I say that it is a good thing that the test is slightly easier.
Of course, I would change my opinion if this reduction in the difficulty level of the test showed a lower quality of service provided by the firefighters. But if this new test allows females to be a larger part of the fire brigade and maintains its quality, I would say that it is one step forward in achieving equality. Men and women aren’t the same, reaching equality between them is to set standards that are considerate of both, which I think this is an example of.
If i was in a burning building, i would, without hesitation, choose to be saved by the person who passed the old test. This is simply because the old test was a real test of strength and endurance and only the "physically gifted" could have a chance of making the squad. It is discriminating in that sense because it means that average people would never be able to get in. However, being a firefighter is no easy job and when you have to go and saves lives in a burning building, you absolutely want a person who is competent and qualified for doing his/her job, you want someone who's physically tough enough to be in those situations. The hard training also shapes up your moral since you know that you have to keep performing in order to remain in the squad. Without doubt, a firefighter should be someone who's tough physically and mentally.
ReplyDeleteNo, i don't think it can be considered as discrimination against women if women do find the physical test harder. First of all, they should know what they are getting into and what sort of tasks they will be performing and therefore there is no reason to complain about the difficulty of those tests. Secondly, it's not like no women made it before, there are some examples of some success stories and that proves that it is not as impossible as it seems to get in. Lastly, i think lowering the standards would actually be considered as discrimination since what is being implied is that since women are not strong enough physically and mentally to tackle this test, we should lower it for them even though, if that means putting the lives of civilians and those new recruits in peril.
I would prefer to be saved by the person who passed the second test because I wouldn’t like to put myself as well as the first person in danger-that is, both of us losing our lives at the long run. Being in the fire department or service is not just about rescuing people but rather, you the rescuer being able to recue yourself as well. Decisions made require logical thinking.
ReplyDeleteIt is not discrimination if a woman finds it difficult to pass a physical test , because women can not compare themselves to men in terms of strength. The women can also work at the fire department but at places they can handle (i.e. not requiring of them to use intense energy). These females should be sent to the fields they are good at.