Women's Rights & Issues

unhappycamper

(60,364 posts) Tue Jun 10, 2014, 08:20 AM Jun 2014

Why no female Blue Angels pilots?

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jun/07/blueangels-women-pilots-navy/?st

In "boys club" atmosphere, pilots choose who joins; Navy now reviewing process

Why no female Blue Angels pilots?
By Jeanette Steele
2:56 p.m.June 7, 2014

Even though Navy women have been flying fighter jets since 1994, no female has ever been chosen for the premiere job in naval aviation: Blue Angels performance pilot.

The issue was at the heart of an insider complaint that brought down a Coronado-based former Blue Angels leader last week over sexual harassment and may lead to reform in how the elite air-show unit chooses its members.

The scandal revealed a “boys club” atmosphere, where raunchy photos, sexual innuendo and even a huge penis painting were tolerated, and entry to the team is based in part on whether current members think you will fit in.

In fact, applying to the team is called “rushing,” like at college fraternities.

3 replies

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Why no female Blue Angels pilots? (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2014 OP

Why Blue Angels at all? Leme Jun 2014 #1

Because I like them. Ed Suspicious Jun 2014 #2

Yeah, why? flamin lib Jun 2014 #3

Leme

(1,092 posts)

1. Why Blue Angels at all?

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Tue Jun 10, 2014, 08:44 AM

Jun 2014

Ed Suspicious

(8,879 posts)

2. Because I like them.

Reply to Leme (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 10, 2014, 08:59 AM

Jun 2014

flamin lib

(14,559 posts)

3. Yeah, why?

Reply to unhappycamper (Original post)

Tue Jun 10, 2014, 10:19 AM

Jun 2014

Women make better combat pilots because their upper body mass is, generally, lower than a man's. That allows them to tolerate g-forces better. This a case of physiology working in women's favor as opposed to upper body strength being advantageous to men.

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