- Joined
- Nov 8, 2010
- Messages
- 893
My two cents for whatever its worth as a female cadet...
So the way I look at it, and it may be a particularly jaded way to look at it, I recognize the sentiments coming from part of the male cadet population who feels that women are getting picked up at a higher rate than the men for certain positions. Looking at this year's BDE staff, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a bit of an over compensation coming out of the rugby incident last year to make West Point look like they were trying to treat both genders equally considering the amount of backlash the institution got over the way they handled, in particular the graduating seniors involved with that incident. The rugby incident wasn't a completely isolated incident here on post, although they've done a much better job in terms of I think taking the time to properly investigate and handle similar situations since, that I think is being over looked. It played a big part in whether or not I wanted to interview for a leadership position this summer, because I don't want something because I'm "given" it...I want it because I earned it and am the best person to do the job.
With that said, the females who get picked up for those positions tend to be just as, if not more qualified than their counterparts. It was interesting watching how the selection for summer higher level selections went this summer, because demographics will play a part, just like anywhere else in ensuring that command teams fully represent the body which they're supposed to represent. Anecdotally, there seemed disporortionally more female cadets interviewing at the BDE level than would make sense, but when you started looking at their backgrounds, these were some of the most qualified of my classmates going up there, just like the men.
Part of what I'd put down to more of the women going for those positions comes down to self-selection on the side of the cadets and the need for some women who see these as a way to prove themselves, in order to be accepted on equal terms with the "guys." Exceling is the only way to prove to some people that women are doing just as good of a job.
Just something I'd say for people to think about that think women are getting things easy. It degrades the work those of us who aren't being placed into these positions for political reasons. As soon as people start seeing people as a "soldier" and not with the adjective "female" or "male" before it, I think we'll be off a lot better. You either meet the standards, or you don't at that point, and your command team better be helping you to get up to standards or else you need to find a different job. Just my thoughts.
I can't talk about what BigNick is saying about the TAC's being overly involved. In my limited experience, that is company dependent. My TAC lets our cadets run the company, and steps in only when needed but that's because, as a graduate, he sees this as our chance to learn. He's there to teach and let us make mistakes in a controlled environment which is what USMA is supposed to be.
So the way I look at it, and it may be a particularly jaded way to look at it, I recognize the sentiments coming from part of the male cadet population who feels that women are getting picked up at a higher rate than the men for certain positions. Looking at this year's BDE staff, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a bit of an over compensation coming out of the rugby incident last year to make West Point look like they were trying to treat both genders equally considering the amount of backlash the institution got over the way they handled, in particular the graduating seniors involved with that incident. The rugby incident wasn't a completely isolated incident here on post, although they've done a much better job in terms of I think taking the time to properly investigate and handle similar situations since, that I think is being over looked. It played a big part in whether or not I wanted to interview for a leadership position this summer, because I don't want something because I'm "given" it...I want it because I earned it and am the best person to do the job.
With that said, the females who get picked up for those positions tend to be just as, if not more qualified than their counterparts. It was interesting watching how the selection for summer higher level selections went this summer, because demographics will play a part, just like anywhere else in ensuring that command teams fully represent the body which they're supposed to represent. Anecdotally, there seemed disporortionally more female cadets interviewing at the BDE level than would make sense, but when you started looking at their backgrounds, these were some of the most qualified of my classmates going up there, just like the men.
Part of what I'd put down to more of the women going for those positions comes down to self-selection on the side of the cadets and the need for some women who see these as a way to prove themselves, in order to be accepted on equal terms with the "guys." Exceling is the only way to prove to some people that women are doing just as good of a job.
Just something I'd say for people to think about that think women are getting things easy. It degrades the work those of us who aren't being placed into these positions for political reasons. As soon as people start seeing people as a "soldier" and not with the adjective "female" or "male" before it, I think we'll be off a lot better. You either meet the standards, or you don't at that point, and your command team better be helping you to get up to standards or else you need to find a different job. Just my thoughts.
I can't talk about what BigNick is saying about the TAC's being overly involved. In my limited experience, that is company dependent. My TAC lets our cadets run the company, and steps in only when needed but that's because, as a graduate, he sees this as our chance to learn. He's there to teach and let us make mistakes in a controlled environment which is what USMA is supposed to be.