Do you believe that women should be limited to certain careers and activities?

Being a woman myself, I don’t believe that jobs and professions should be categorized on gender… as you so richly point out, we women have equaled men in almost any and every field that we’ve cared to try out LOL. However, taking practical situations into consideration I do feel that combative jobs in military should be off limits to women. A few years back even I was appalled at such discriminations (wherever they exist) and would dig up news and stories from all places which had anecdotes about the combative skills of women military commandoes…however two incidents made me sit back and ponder over this. First was the incident about an American lady who wanted an extension to her leave and refused to board the flight back to Afghanistan as because she had a baby at home with nobody to care for it for a few weeks (her mom, the regular caregiver was sick or something)…so that made me think whether combative military jobs are actually suitable for girls. For one, we have to think about our biological clock and pregnancy does not seem to be an option while on duty and even then, small babies are always the responsibility of the mother first. Second was the decision of our Indian Govt not to induct women in combative military post…the reason being the safety of the women themselves, if caught. We all know what happens to male prisoners in most cases, women prisoners are likely to face harsher and more critical harassment which our Govt wants to avoid. I found both the above instances very practical as far as we women are concerned.

there are only 3 acceptable jobs for women, teaching, at primary school level of course, secretarial and nursing. and naturally you stop as soon as you get married. hold on, that was the 1950s. not sure why this should even be a question now. you go for the job you want to do, it is depressing that even in our two countries there are still jobs that some people think women should not be doing because it is unfeminine or something ridiculous like that.

Ok here is my opinion and it's probably not going to be popular. I think women should be able to do whatever job they want provided they can do so without special treatment. My husband is an electrical lineman. He lifts 100 pounds often, has to use the bathroom in the woods, drive for hours on end only stopping for gas, etc. There are women lineworkers, BUT they have to go somewhere to use the bathroom, which means less work accomplished, take more breaks when driving, and have help doing all the heavy work. They also have to have separate sleeping quarters where the guys all just bunk up however. Seems to me, this is not doing the job the same way as a man so they probably shouldn't be doing it or they should let the guys do the same as the women. As far as less physical jobs like doctors, executives, etc. I think women are just as capable as men, probably more so in some cases. I just think women who want to do jobs traditionally thought of as for guys should be able to do them without special treatment. Just my opinion.

I find it hard to believe that so many people still have those old views of women. It is so disheartening! I was just reading an article the other day about this anti-feminist who was being interviewed saying that no woman should be president of the US. I was very shocked, I wish I could find the article to link to you but, this conservative actually said something about Palin having kids, like that was enough to disqualify her for president. UGH! And, I don't even like Palin

Well yes certainly, because women must accept the reality that they have physical limitations. And they cant do anything about it. I am a bit feminist , but still i believe that there are certain jobs performed better by men. I just cant imagine a girly girly woman climbing a high rise ladder in an attempt to save someone. Some jobs really are just for men ..some for both..some for women. And women doesn't have to feel they are invincible thinking they can beat men in all areas, same goes for men.We all have our limitations, we will perform better if we are aware of such limitations.

No, I can see absolutely no reason for that. For bath-room guards and actors I find it OK that they advertize for men and women according to what they need, but apart from that I can't think of many jobs that can't be done by both genders. And I really think those IOC people are STUPID for not letting the women compete in ski jumping at the same level as men! Idiots *grumble*

I think that women are able to do whatever they want. Employment shouldn't be based on gender. Women in 2010 are fire fighters, police officers, army pilots. I'm proud of your daughter for pursuing what she wanted. Good job! I agree it's sad that women have so far to come after Rosie. I have a "Rosie the Riveter" postcard on the wall, right above my computer!

..hi.. well, traditionally, when women were not yet educated, they just serve as the housewife and no more.. they were not allowed to land on any job.. that's in our country's case.. and as days went by, women gained power little by little until they were able to assert their selves that they can also do something that men can. and that's absolute for me.. we women are not only for some type of jobs.. we can land on any job that we are capable of.. the only thing about men is, they are hurt because of their ego.. they feel uncomfortable with women working in their "masculine World".. but it should not like that since women are becoming the breadwinner of the family.. we can't just stay where the guys want us to stay.. we have our own capabilities and we can certainly do something that men can't.. It should be partnership now of men and women.. to make the flow of the work "balance"..hehehe.. we're not just accessories.. we can accomplish big things just like men..

there should not be gender discrimination when it comes to career, and i believe in that idea before i went to college and took up a course that is dominated by men. i finished my school by sad to say, there are a very few opportunity for women in this field and most end up with other careers like me.

I believe that women should have the same opportunity for any job that a man does. They should not be given special treatment just because they are female though. There are some jobs that are physically demanding, that not all women are suited to. Not all men are suited to them either. I used to work a job doing underground construction, installing and maintaining natural gas lines. This involved using a jackhammer on a daily basis and a lot of shovel work, digging in hard soil, under harsh, dirty conditions. We had a couple of women join the ranks, one being about 5 foot 4 and never having had any job other than an office job in her life. Her upper body strength was severely lacking. Well, a jackhammer weighs 95 pounds and once it hammers into the concrete, you then have to pull it, or sometimes, jerk it out and the handles are about waste high for an average man. For her, they were above her waste so it was impossible for her to lift it once it was hammered in, indeed she could barely carry it from the back of the truck to the dig site. She simply was not physically capable of doing this type of work on a daily basis and even though she stuck it out for a while, she ended up moving on to something else. To be fair, we also had some men that hired in and didn't make it either. Overall though, you're going to see more men in this type of work, simply because on average, men are physically stronger than women. I'm talking averages here. Obviously, there are women who would be able to handle this type of work and there are some doing it, but you will never see more women doing it than men. So I would say there definitely should be equal opportunity for men and women, but men and women are not the same. We have differences (thank god). Men are better suited for some things and women are better suited for some things. It's not a matter of superior or inferior, just different. [;-)

A women should be able to pursue whatever career goal takes her fancy. Why should we have less privleges then men. If we are ready and able to do a job, then why not. Men who say otherwise perhaps feel their masulinity is being threatened if a women can do something better or just as good as them.

I think they should be considering their physical ability and the nature of job.Now i am not trying to be chauvinist, but being practical.I believe that all will agree to this.

i beleive that women should be limited in their carrers. I mean come on, if we let women become buff and manley doing these kind of jobs, 30 years from now we're gonna have a bunch of women who are buff and not so appealing. Women can never be in danger because they are the mother of the family so any job that risks their lives is certainley out of the question. Why can't they just stay home like they're supposed to? They always want to rebel against us and do everythiung wrong.

I dont think so....some people does tell me that coz im a bit boyish and im engaged to some male jobs. Im taking up criminal justice, and im an A-lister in class, and i shoot better and more accurately that my male classmates. Im also tattoo artist, and i can make better tattoos that other males. The point is if a person choose to be good in a certain field then,why would they be limited just because of their gender?

Well I to believe that Women can do whatever they set their mind to do Be it a Car Mechanic, a Firefighter and other things it is their decision to be this and no one has the right to say you can't do that it is for Men

I think that men and women both should be able to be anything they are able to. If your daughter did not pass the physical, she should look elsewhere but since she was able to she will make a fine volunteer firefighter and more power to her! Men are branching out now, too, becoming nurses and typists, etc. Now, if they have to set the standards lower to accommodate a woman I don't think she should be trying to do that job. But if a woman has the skills necessary, I don't believe she should be prohibited from applying for and performing any job.

I need no "reason" to restrict women's professions other than traditions and prejudices...

Of course women can do any job they choose! Your daughter is a fire fighter and clearly for her to be employed in such a field requires for her to be able to do all that is physically required, heavy lifting etc; obviously she can meet all those requirements or she would not be in the job. My point is if a person can do what is required in a job that person should be allowed to do it regardless if the individual is a man or a woman. Certainly abilty matters far more than gender!

Women can do whatever they want to do. Has anyone noticed women do everything and then the same idiots that ask them to do everything say they can't do anything? I don't believe women are held back nor should they be held back by anyone but themselves.

Personally women should also be given an opportunity to work equally with men for as long as she is capable and qualified to do the job.