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What Are Your Views On Women Firefighters?
How do you see them in the line of fire? What are your opinions and veiws?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Unfortunately, this answer is yes WP... in some situations, and for myself, living in litigious California, having a male alone with a female is neutralized by the presence of a female nurse at the hospital for example. This would extend to the female firefighter treating the female patient.
To be clear hear, what I am focusing on are calls that are 'sensitive' in nature. This being medical calls involving modesty issues or the fact that a woman, in most cases, prefer to talk about 'woman stuff' between themselves. For me personally, I'm fine with that and I have enough respect and courtesy to know when I need to butt out.
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Chief,
Why would you think that? Sometimes people need to hear (or read) what the realities are. It's not hostile...it's not warm and fuzzy I grant you but it certainly isn't (hasn't been) hostile.
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"As to hearing and smell (alluded to by CBz) again I'd like to see the data."
• Scientists at Monell Chemical Senses Center (USA Research Firm for the Food Business) showed women of reproductive age are far better at identifying odors than men after repeated exposure to the source of the smell.
• Researchers found female subjects whose odor sensitivity was tested many times, were able to detect the cherry-almond smell of benzaldehyde and a few other odors at progressively much lower concentrations.
• Male subjects taking part in similar tests never improved their ability to identify odors with experience.
• Researchers suggest the study results raise the possibility that female sex hormones have a role in enabling exposure-induced increases in odor sensitivity.
• Experts say many studies show women out perform men in olfactory (sense of smell) sensitivity.
Tim Jacobs, Professor of Physiology at Cardiff University, said:
> "Some studies have shown that during ovulation, there's a surge of oestrogen which increases sensitivity.
> "The structure of the nose is the same in women as men.
> "They don't have any more receptors in the nose.
> "Studies have also shown smells activate a greater region in the brain in women than men."
> "There is a wealth of scientific data showing women's superiority at identifying and detecting odors at even very small concentrations."
They used benzaldehyde again and a second substance, isoamyl acetate, which smells like bananas. Sensitivity to benzaldehyde increased substantially for both the experienced women and the new "naive" group, but not for men. However this was not repeated with isoamyl acetate.
Supporting Documentation: http://www.monell.org/images/uploads/Monell_Winter06.pdf
CBz
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Permalink Reply by WestPhilly on
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Captain Busy, my friend,
I noticed you commented "so what?" when you pointed out that you never met a female firefighter who was as strong as her male counterpart. Even IF this study about olfactory ability is conclusive, it seems you're giving it more weight than the obvious strength differences between men and women. A woman (in her child-bearing years) can detect odors that a man can't? So what?
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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I'm sorry; are we having another Battle of the Sexes?
Wait a sec; I can pull that one off of the shelf and read it again.
I have it filed right next to career vs. volunteer.
On the other side of Battle of the Sexes is a very old file on Apparatus Color. Note that it is in alphabetical order.
Apparatus, Battle, Career, Dashlights, Electronics, Firegear, etc.
Key words are important, like when you do a search.
I'm learning.
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Art,
With all due respect, this discussion is absolutely NOT on the order of career/volly, helmet color, apparatus color, lights on POV's etc.... (It may be in terms of its frequency, but not gravity). There are very legitimate considerations here, not the least of which is setting high physical standards (even if they exclude a disproportionate number of females) and applying those standards equally, regardless of sex.
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I didn't question the issue of smell, studies have shown that, while blindfolded mother's can identify their own baby. I do think that is significant and may even by helpful in searching for a missing child, maybe women can function on some level as a bloodhound. However, I'm not sure how that would make them any better as a firefighter, unless you're looking for a lost banana.
And while studies have shown that women use parts of their brain differently than do men it doesn't show any causal or correlation that would make them better thinkers.
Women may appear to be more compassionate but that may very likely be a result of social pressures that require males to "man up".
All the above being said, compassion, intuition, keen sense of smell and a different intellectual approach is still not going to get the roof vented, the line advanced or the baby found. It still kind of relies of strength and endurance. I mean, that's been my experience.
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Yes; I know. Physical agility testing should not be gender-based. I get it.
But, I have been reading this since it was posted and the title of the thread doesn't say, "Should there be physical agility testing based on gender?"
No; it says, "What are your views on women firefighters?"
And that's why I have filed it under "Battle of the Sexes".
Regardless of sex.
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Despite how the thread was titled, or the usual twists and turns that typically occur in any discussion, it's a serious, not trivial matter. That's my only point.
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Permalink Reply by Nicholas Hawkins on
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Its too dark to see what gender or race somebody is in a burning house anyway lol
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Art,
The poster also asked the following question:
"How do you see them in the line of fire? What are your opinions and veiws? "
The opinion and views are (or should be) that gender is NOT the issue but rather ABILITY. Hence WP's comment about "high physical standards"
Either the poster seriously wants to know what the opinions and views are, or she's just looking for affirmation that women are acceptable in the fire service without any other qualification.
In either event, I agree that it is a serious enough issue to warrant discussion without it being a battle of the sexes. Rather, it's a battle of ability versus demand. Does one have the ability to get the job, or do they just demand it.
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