We’re talking specifics here: the military and firefighters. YOU are the one who attempted to change the subject to some imaginary “average”. Yes, to answer your off-topic question, an “average” man will have more upper body strength than an “average” woman. So what?

And that is the nature of the problem; a certain level of physical conditioning should be a requirement, because it would rule out the vast majority of average women and average men. Isn’t that what boot camp is all about in the military: to make sure new soldiers *are* able to perform their duties?

Would a female sailor really be allowed on a ship if she weren’t able to pick up and lug a hose, or would a female soldier be allowed in Iraq if she couldn’t keep up hiking and carrying with the other guys she’s working with? I know in the fire department they’d certainly be shown the door if they couldn’t perform up to department standards, and that includes the psychological standards of going blind into a burning room and finding your way out without panicking.

I apologize for the obnoxious statement about timid wives, but the point I’m trying to make is that so often in discussions like this, there are outside factors people are considering and dancing around that have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not a man or a woman is competent to do a certain job. And that’s just not right.