Why so few girls ?
Join Date: May 2001
Location: New Jersey Shore
Age: 92
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To me, the reason is obvious. Women don't want to be airline pilots. If they did, they would apply.
Civil rights laws in the USA go out of their way to see to it that no qualified women are kept from employment in any field. The women know this, yet do not apply.
I like it the way it is.
The truth stands on it's own merit. It is the lie that needs protection.
Civil rights laws in the USA go out of their way to see to it that no qualified women are kept from employment in any field. The women know this, yet do not apply.
I like it the way it is.
The truth stands on it's own merit. It is the lie that needs protection.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Australia
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As a 21 year old girl who is having serious thoughts of a flying career, I thought I might be able to shed some light on this matter.
Firstly, I think girls rely on a lot of support from others as to what career choices they should make. I think that more than boys, they need a lot more reassurance. Eg 'do you think I would make a good pilot?' or 'can you see me as a pilot?' Because there is currently a very low percentage of women pilots and perhaps even because 'the general public' don't see/meet many women pilots often (if ever), many girls receive fake support. Even with the best of intentions, I've heard people give a lot of encouragement only to turn around and say, 'she won't do it'. Sad but true in some (not all) cases.
I think that self-doubt is another contributing aspect. I guess in a lot of situations, a male majority are seen in positions of power, leadership and quick decision-making. Eg politicians, police officers, army sergeants, emergency doctors, engineers etc. (Pease, I am not saying that women aren't seen in these jobs. I am trying to convey what only I have seen to be the case)
As a result, girls/women may fear not being able to handle emergency situations. Flying in poor weather conditions, being responsible for so many lives and very expensive aircrafts can seem rather daunting.
There is also a perception from many girls that flying is an extremely difficult thing to learn. For me when I was younger, I (no idea why) always assumed only engineers became jet pilots. Unless your came from an engineering background, you had no chance.
My school may be an exception, but there were a very low percentage of girls who took physics as a year 12 subject (a prerequisite for Qantas). In a class of over 40, there were only 4 girls. No deliberate measures were ever taken to increase female numbers (not that I think there should have been), I guess many girls just were not interested. Instead, many girls chose biology and human biology.
Finally, money for girls and guys in a major concern. Unless girls learn to fly before they get married and start a family, I am assuming that financial and time constraints would make learning to fly a difficult (not impossible) task. Also changing family environments may also impact. I would think that a flying career would be extremely difficult in a single parent situation.
Ok well that is what my thoughts are. These are only my opinions and I'm sure that some of you may have had different experiences and may not agree on some points. I’m sure that many guys may also have come across a number of these possibilities.
Anyway, perhaps if I had known at 16 what I know now, I might have started my lessons much earlier.
Firstly, I think girls rely on a lot of support from others as to what career choices they should make. I think that more than boys, they need a lot more reassurance. Eg 'do you think I would make a good pilot?' or 'can you see me as a pilot?' Because there is currently a very low percentage of women pilots and perhaps even because 'the general public' don't see/meet many women pilots often (if ever), many girls receive fake support. Even with the best of intentions, I've heard people give a lot of encouragement only to turn around and say, 'she won't do it'. Sad but true in some (not all) cases.
I think that self-doubt is another contributing aspect. I guess in a lot of situations, a male majority are seen in positions of power, leadership and quick decision-making. Eg politicians, police officers, army sergeants, emergency doctors, engineers etc. (Pease, I am not saying that women aren't seen in these jobs. I am trying to convey what only I have seen to be the case)
As a result, girls/women may fear not being able to handle emergency situations. Flying in poor weather conditions, being responsible for so many lives and very expensive aircrafts can seem rather daunting.
There is also a perception from many girls that flying is an extremely difficult thing to learn. For me when I was younger, I (no idea why) always assumed only engineers became jet pilots. Unless your came from an engineering background, you had no chance.
My school may be an exception, but there were a very low percentage of girls who took physics as a year 12 subject (a prerequisite for Qantas). In a class of over 40, there were only 4 girls. No deliberate measures were ever taken to increase female numbers (not that I think there should have been), I guess many girls just were not interested. Instead, many girls chose biology and human biology.
Finally, money for girls and guys in a major concern. Unless girls learn to fly before they get married and start a family, I am assuming that financial and time constraints would make learning to fly a difficult (not impossible) task. Also changing family environments may also impact. I would think that a flying career would be extremely difficult in a single parent situation.
Ok well that is what my thoughts are. These are only my opinions and I'm sure that some of you may have had different experiences and may not agree on some points. I’m sure that many guys may also have come across a number of these possibilities.
Anyway, perhaps if I had known at 16 what I know now, I might have started my lessons much earlier.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Low, low down
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During my time as a commercial flying instructor the best student I ever had was a girl. In the company I worked for, women were subject to exactly the same entry criteria as men for sponsored training and her aptitude result was the highest we ever recorded. She had terrific hand/foot/eye co-ordination and only ever needed to be shown anything once. In general (though not always) the female students we had were of a high average to above average standard. We did have considerably fewer applications from women than men though.
