I think they meant fireMAN...not firefighter in general :)

They do have female firefighters in 'Fidney' (FDNY), though they are the exception, rather than the rule; many are also paramedics/EMTs.

In 1983, Capt Brenda Berkman led a lawsuit to force the Fire Department to develop a new physical test that women could pass. The court order of such stupid hiring practices have expried for a while now. If I remember correctly, women had trouble carrying a heavy dummy up/down a certain amount of stairs (a test to simulate work in a skyscraper).

There are 28 women in the FDNY, out of a total force of 10,500 (0.26% of the FDNY). Only eight women have come on the force since the first group of women entered training in 1983, Ms. Berkman said.

If you can pass the test, then fine. If you can't find another occupation.

-Rudey
--And I've never heard anyone call it the "Fidney"

I remember overhearing it in an episode of 'Third Watch' -- it wasn't said by the firefighters but by the police in a FDNY/NYPD basketball game. (On the other hand, NYPD has other less flattering names to call the FDNY: "Rubbermen" and the "Red Menace". That was well before 9/11 though.)

I find myself partially agreeing with Rudey. On the one hand, if you're actually in a burning building, you'd better be prepared to get yourself and whoever you're rescuing out. A fire doesn't care if you have a penis or not.

On the other hand, there's no reason that women can't work with the fire department as EMTs, drivers, dispatchers, etc. if they don't meet the most stringent physical standards.

If anyone, male or female, has the desire and can do the work, more power to them.

In Toronto they are always looking for women for any of the emergency services, not just the fire department. So iladies if you want to be a firefighter, cop, Paramedic, come to Toronto.

To the best of my knowledge, in Ohio the tests (where you carry dummies through burning houses, down stairs, etc.) are exactly the same for everyone, male or female. [My knowledge is from a few years ago, I don't think it's changed]. You don't see many female firefighters, but there are some. And they hold their own with men. If they didn't, they wouldn't be there.

With some of the exceptions we've seen on this list, like sperm donor ;) , I don't think there's anything men do better than women. Men may have a general natural physical advantage in things like sports or being a firefighter, but I've seen some tough women that surpass a lot of men, and some wussy guys who would do worse than me (and I'm not all that fit). I don't think you can limit it to male/female. Because every person's different.

i really don't think a woman could be santa claus

or the strongman in the circus.

A Catholic priest

If you choose a career in the military, women are currently barred from the following jobs:

Army: infantry, special forces (Green Berets, SFOD-Delta)
Navy: submarine service, special forces (SEALs)
Air Force: special forces (pararescue, combat controller)
Marines: infantry, special forces (force recon, sniper)

Female combat pilots in any of the services can fly any type of combat aircraft but are barred from flying special operations combat aircraft (MH-53 'Pave Low', MH-60 'Pave Hawk", MH-47 'Chinook' MH-6 'Little Bird'). They can, however fly special operations support aircraft, such as the MC-130 'Combat Talon'.

Some women are really men though.

-Rudey
--ie Janet Reno

Valets. Smashed cars are expensive to repair.

The National Officer of any NIC fraternity? :)

Don't be an ass. My roommate is a valet and she is the top person in her division. She's the only one that has never had even a minor accident.

Or look at your local women rugby team. they scare me.