From a female reader's email, used with permission. The rest of the post is hers. You should see the whole questionnaire she sent me. It is nothing but birth control, STDs and Mommy-track questions. I'll show you a couple just for fun.
I was recently asked to participate in a Navy survey on parenting. It is possible that once I gender identified, the questions shifted to female questions, so I will slightly forgive the fact that this "parenting" survey appeared to assume only mommies are impacted by naval service.
However, of course the first question asked after gender is race.
Relevance?
...
For my write in response to the last question:
"As a single woman, I feel the Navy has, in its efforts to be more family friendly, frequently saddled me with more TADs, more IAs, more holiday duty, more last minute TAD deployments, etc. while those with families are not expected to share the load. I see this even more rampant in the junior enlisted ranks. I do not mind the additional duties, so long as come FITREP/EVAL time, it's recognized, but all too often it isn't. It is very frustrating to have to shoulder a heavier load, only to have the Navy step in and give an unfair advantage via special billets, precept language and other perks to people who have been allowed to coast. Regarding career intermissions and programs of that ilk, yes. It is more difficult to be a mother and a military leader. However, we have a number of strong women who have struck that balance. THESE are the women we should seek to promote. Women who can prioritize, multi-task, and take responsibility for their lives without special treatment or programs. They do exist. In numbers. I do not want to work for someone, male or female, who couldn't balance their own life and work without the Navy showing them the way. If they can't sort out their own life, how can they sort out mine? And part of being a leader is being able to sort out the needs and issues of your sailors, many of whom will not get the magic tap for career intermissions and other such programs. Finally, what the heck does my race have to do with the topic of this survey? Last I checked, skin color does not change how babies are made."
I was recently asked to participate in a Navy survey on parenting. It is possible that once I gender identified, the questions shifted to female questions, so I will slightly forgive the fact that this "parenting" survey appeared to assume only mommies are impacted by naval service.
However, of course the first question asked after gender is race.
Relevance?
...
For my write in response to the last question:
"As a single woman, I feel the Navy has, in its efforts to be more family friendly, frequently saddled me with more TADs, more IAs, more holiday duty, more last minute TAD deployments, etc. while those with families are not expected to share the load. I see this even more rampant in the junior enlisted ranks. I do not mind the additional duties, so long as come FITREP/EVAL time, it's recognized, but all too often it isn't. It is very frustrating to have to shoulder a heavier load, only to have the Navy step in and give an unfair advantage via special billets, precept language and other perks to people who have been allowed to coast. Regarding career intermissions and programs of that ilk, yes. It is more difficult to be a mother and a military leader. However, we have a number of strong women who have struck that balance. THESE are the women we should seek to promote. Women who can prioritize, multi-task, and take responsibility for their lives without special treatment or programs. They do exist. In numbers. I do not want to work for someone, male or female, who couldn't balance their own life and work without the Navy showing them the way. If they can't sort out their own life, how can they sort out mine? And part of being a leader is being able to sort out the needs and issues of your sailors, many of whom will not get the magic tap for career intermissions and other such programs. Finally, what the heck does my race have to do with the topic of this survey? Last I checked, skin color does not change how babies are made."
