My first assignment in Oz in 1982, whilst working for a US based multi-national, was to ensure compliance with Australia’s 1975 Act and to do the same with our company’s own Anti-discrimination and harassment polices.

In only twelve months we dispatched one MD, two State GM’s and no less that three HR Managers.

Much of what has been expressed in the posts on this thread would have ensured a trip to the HR Office, compulsory counseling, a months pay, a cardboard box containing the contents of your desk drawers and an escorted trip to the front door.

You have a very long way to go boys.

Much of what has been expressed here is all about “I”. I think, In my view, I’m, I’m, I’m.

Worst of all from rehctub, “these women”. What? You are a social dinosaur.

If anyone, regardless of race, creed, age or gender, is denied the right to particular employment that is discrimination. Choice!

Who do you think built the Tanks, Planes, Ships, Artillery Pieces and Ammunition during WWII? Not to mention Civil Defense, Fire Fighting, Diesel Engine maintenance and feeding the kids.

You don’t know what tough is.

I’ve served in the military with women and from what I’ve heard on this thread, I’d select them any day rather than stand along side a bunch of mealy mouthed, jelly backed, loudmouthed and ill informed pussies.

Drag yourselves screaming in to at least the 20th Century for goodness sake.

The Blue Cross,

Well, rape in jails would be punishment I suppose. Bit different to 'our diggers' suddenly now being mums.

It's a whole topic in itself rape. It's a double edged sword these different attitudes to men or women being raped. You hear commentary admonishing notions of 'precious gift', 'purity', 'sluts' etc but the converse is male sexuality is degraded as perverted and perverse (Male masturbation is dirty and disgusting while female masturbation is sensuous and erotic) and not valuable at all.

Then you have the bigger tragedy if a mother gets killed than if a father gets killed. Actually in general 'women and children first' puts more value on female life. Perhaps rightly. And on it goes...

Regardless I don't see misogyny in it all. Misandry if anything.

Anyway these topics are for another time.

Takes nothing away from the very real societal attitudes to women in the forces are different and it puts particular pressure on governments.

True spindoc.. I heard it with my own ears in that fillum called, I think, 'The Queen'.

Whatever it was called, it was about Di's death and what a toerag Phillip was and what a dear old softie Blair was, so early denying any chance of ridding that nation of its bottomfeeding parasites, the Royals.

QE worked as a mechanic in the war.

My granny drove army personnel around during the Blitz, that is, actually during it as bombs fell all around.

And all the factories were full of women, as the doc suggests.

Check out the industrial history and see how jobs were left open for 'the boys' here, once they came back, and women were dumped like a hot potato and lost their 'rights' to work.

Pelican:”Maybe we should not be telling our children, boys and girls, that they can do anything. This a myth that educators started spruiking in the 80s and it has continued. It just sets people up for disappointment when they get out into the real world. Teach kids to do their best, utilise their talents and work towards their goals, but sometimes things happen that are out of our control.”

Yep the “anything” always has a few reality rules surrounding it. One shouldn’t be you are just as capable but the boys can’t handle you doing what they’ve traditionally done or the army is unable to train its soldiers how to treat their female equivalents. Actually don’t they have to learn to get rid of serotypes when dealing with the enemy for their own safety?

Spindoc:”If anyone, regardless of race, creed, age or gender, is denied the right to particular employment that is discrimination.”

But we’ve already seen the courts here uphold that kind of discrimination in favour of who the churches are willing to employ.

Runner why don’t we open the footy teams to the girls. Compulsory half and half teams, why not.

Did you just cringe?

Come on, no one is press ganging females, but we should not judge them by our standards, you too Lady's.
On construction sites around this country I have been in contact with some women who could out drink a drunk, out swear me, out work two men.
Drive the very biggest truck.
And men do not like being shouted at? wish I knew that years ago.
Want to swear right now, women have every right to want and to do what ever they wish.
It comes down to this, our current armed forces are not forced in to uniform they ask for the job.
NOW Rechtub and the anti female brigade, have you thought about female country coppers?
Seen one handle drunks? thugs? mugs?
Ah I am afraid of people who put every one in box's .

Rehctub refers to women in traditionally male roles as a lowing of standards.
- I don't agree at all.

I don't underestimate the innate power of women one iota - and, yes, the role played by women during World War II in Britain is a fascinating area of study.

But why do modern women find themselves "juggling" every facet of their lives - trying to be everything to themselves and everyone else, and in the process continually devaluing one area of their lives to exalt another....a curious way to find fulfillment and liberation.