Quote Originally Posted by AmericanPride View Post
It is clear that all of the physical requirements in the military can be completed by women, and it's irrelevant if the strongest man is stronger than the strongest woman. Can you establish that the weakest man is stronger than strongest woman? If not, then there is no factual basis on which to exclude women by using physical strength as criterea.
The above is nonsense in assessing suitability for military labour because strength criteria are already - and necessarily - used to exclude men at about the 95% percentile.

Quote Originally Posted by carl View Post
It may be clear to you that all of the physical requirements in the military can be completed by the average woman (note "average", you gotta plan for the average squadron pilot) but not to me.
Average possibly but the underlying qualification is that an average squadron pilot may be ‘special’ to a particular type of squadron. A military pilot has to wear a helmet laden with life support, comms and sensor gear. The weight and inertia of that gear produces transverse loads during head turning and even small movement within seat restraints. One result is that fast jet pilots are especially liable to develop neck and back strains. Some pilots become disabled by the strains. Basic neck strength may not be formally measured but is nonetheless a criterion for determing suitability to become a pilot. Have heard it suggested that on the grounds of cost – for ab-initio test and for medical compensation – women be accepted only for training as pilots of ‘slow’ fixed-wing aircraft.

So just how different is female musculature ? The classic example is that of African women who carry heavy and bulky loads on top of the head directly above the spinal column. That might be described as upper body strength but does not indicate any capability to rapidly handle two 20-litre jerrycans, or even a single 25kg artillery shell.

A fast way for anyone to become a social outcast in a work environment is – other attractions notwithstanding – showing that he or she is not able to do the job.