Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: alancalverd on 24/05/2016 20:21:21
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Our beloved Home Secretary today complained that the Fire Brigade was 95% white and 98% male.
Since 90% of the UK population is white, and those of Asian descent tend to go into more academic professions, the first statistic is hardly surprising.
There being only a limited number of seats on a fire engine, and emergencies tending to happen at family-unfriendly hours, I would have thought anyone recruiting firefighters would look for above-average strength and a willingness to work night shifts, school holidays, etc. So the second statistic doesn't surprise me either.
Is it me, or is Teresa May unfit for purpose?
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The physical tests required may also help explain the "98% male" , e.g. ...
Candidates in full PPE will be required to drag a 55kg casualty walking backwards [...] around a 30-metre course.
http://www.fireservice.co.uk/recruitment/physical
They should really specify the surface that the 55kg dummy-casualty is to be dragged across : it will be a lot easier on polished-lino than tarmac.
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Her purpose seems to be to further the 3rd wave intersectional Feminist cause, and Privatise the Fire service.
It's interesting to see these ideas really take root in politics, Obama amoung others quote the stats they create, yet do not actually check them.
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They should really specify the surface that the 55kg dummy-casualty is to be dragged across : it will be a lot easier on polished-lino than tarmac.
Polished linoleum burns really well. Vinyl flooring tends to get sticky and smoulder. Give me tarmac any day! Though the only probable indoor 30-meter surfaces are likely to be concrete. Nevertheless, when I asked a couple of sensible feminists yesterday, they both said they'd prefer me to rescue them rather than the other way round..