THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 TAG: 9505230293
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: My Turn
SOURCE: Mary Mahoney
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Women on board ships? What a great subject.
I am so tired of hearing about it. But I, too, have an opinion.
What is the problem with people that they are having such a difficult time dealing with this?
Do they believe, as the pirates did, that women on a ship are bad luck?
Many people, both military and civilian, have adverse reactions to change. They would prefer that no progress be made to move into the next century.
The years of quiet, demure, passive women are long gone. The days of women in the military holding only positions far from where the action is have passed into oblivion.
Since women can do this job, without looking for preferential treatment, and pull their own weight, then let it be so.
Leave them alone and let them perform their duties with pride and dignity. Give them the respect they so justly deserve.
The military is not about a particular gender. It's about working as a team for our country. For those who can't cope with these changes, find a way to deal with it or retire.
Women on board ships are not something new. Large numbers of women going on deployments on ships that were typically manned by males is.
Ladies, there are some things you must do to get the respect you deserve. You must be willing to do the job required of you. One hundred percent of the time.
Should your position require you to lift 50-gallon drums, find a way to do it. Do not let a male shipmate do it for you. Don't pull the gender thing when it is convenient. This is where the problem starts.
Wanting to be treated as an equal doesn't mean that if Joe sailor asks to help you, you must say yes. When you say yes to him, then you appear weak. This reminds him that his theory is correct. Women can't do the job as well as men, therefore they shouldn't be on board.
If you can't do all that is required of your position then maybe you should consider changing rates. Prior to choosing a rate, find out what all the requirements will be. Then select a rate that best suits you.
I know something of the female military situation. I have a friend who recently left the service of the U.S. Navy. Her performance is a fine example of why women should be on board ships.
She excelled at all that she did as a member of the Navy. My friend struggled at some tasks but always found a way to accomplish the job before her.
Many of her male shipmates offered to help her. She decided not to become one of those women who used their gender as an excuse not to do this job.
It is my understanding that the majority of women in the Navy do their job. They perform all the necessary tasks thoroughly and they do them well.
It is the women who use their gender as an excuse who make it difficult for their female shipmates to get the respect they deserve.
There will always be women who do what is required of them in their job, and more, as well as women who pick and choose what they will or won't do.
The Navy, like many large civilian corporations, is going through some major changes.
As time passes the dust will settle, all the glitches will be worked out and folks will learn to deal with the changes.
Most important, the media will find something new to talk about. by CNB