Discrimination or Perceived Discrimination?

I do not know whether women are being systematically discriminated against in FBI training as is alleged in this New York Times article or whether the trainees quoted in the piece merely perceive that they are being discriminated against as this quotation reflects:

“Female trainees are singled out in group tactical exercises because they are perceived as being weak and prone to failure,” they wrote in the complaint. “Male trainees are provided multiple avenues for success, in spite of their errors. Male trainees are often permitted to retake tactical exams when female trainees are denied the opportunity to do so.”

I do know that only 25% of police officers, 15% of active duty military, and 7% of firefighters are women despite decades of energetic recruitment. I think that some of the discrepancy is due to discrimination but I also think that some is due to preference on the part of women while some is also because these are tough, physically demanding jobs whose requirements ought not to be relaxed to make it easier for women or weaker men to join.

1 comment… add one
  • Andy Link

    Hard to say what the facts are. Each organization has its own culture (and baggage) which is often hard to discern from the outside.

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