Clever Solution: When Men Refuse to Salute Women
That gives me a huge grin – for every subordinate who refuses to salute a female superior officer, she gets an extra KD50 in her paycheck! This is a very clever solution.
Kuwaiti policemen refusing to salute female officers
Published Date: April 02, 2009
KUWAIT: Only shortly after the graduation of the first batch of female police officers, a large number of their male colleagues have put the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in an awkward position by insisting that they will refuse to salute any female officer, no matter how superior her rank to their own. The male officers cited local social values, cultural norms and traditions to justify their stance, reported Al-Jarida.
The ministry must now decide whether to strictly implement the law and force these officers to perform their duties in a professional manner or to take the policemen’s concerns into account and accept their refusal. A recent fatwa issued by Dr Ajil Al-Nashmi which stated that saluting a woman is contrary to local and tribal traditions, is believed to have aggravated the situation, making the male officers’ determination to accept no compromise on the issue even stronger.
One MoI official said that the ministry is considering the options of paying female officers an additional KD 50 on top of their wages for every salute which male colleagues refuse to give them or imposing administrative penalties on the male police officers in question.
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Oh maaan….jus when you thot the country is becoming more flexible on issues pertaining to women’s equality n rights….this comes up.
I’m sure the MOI will be in a fix. It also raises a question, if fatwas hav more importance n credance than the country’s LAWS….????!!!
Another question tat raises up is how will the Police women, prove tat they were not ‘saluted’ by a male sub-ordinate…??? Wear spy-cams on their uniforms…??
On a lighter note….with the 50 KD allowance, for ‘every’ salute refused……I (a male) am willing to go to ”extremes” n change my profession. π
This is not an uncommon mentality amongst Kuwaitis. I’ves een Kuwaiti sergeants curse out Kuwiati Colonels based on local and tribal customs
lol! This is going to make things very interesting. I’m hoping that people understand that military rank has nothing to do with gender regardless of traditions or customs or tribal values!
lol LOVE the idea π
Now here’s me putting my corrupt mind to work: Why don’t these women conspire with the their male subordinates–if they promise not to salute her, she promises to split the 50 KD with them π ..just kidding
Why do military or police forces issue uniforms? “Unity” – there are no individuals: It is a unified force. They all train the same way; they are all there to serve their country. They are all their to look out for each other and if it comes to it – keeping their colleagues out of harms way.
Does religion or color or politics or gender have anything to do with being a unified force? They are supposed to leave their personal issues at home.
Just wait till one of those female officers saves a male officer’s life…. then you’ll see how they salute!
“Dr Ajil Al-Nashmi which stated that saluting a woman is contrary to local and tribal traditions…” Is discrimination and disrespect part of local and tribal traditions? Are women “less” in Kuwaiti society than men? Is his mother? Is his sister? Is his wife?
Nice idea π
oh come on!
By the way, I think it is a fixed-50KD allowance and not per-salute-refused. (unless it’s April Fools)
I can see the viewpoint of those who refuse the salute. Saluting amounts to submitting yourself to the orders/controls of the superior officer… I can see where a man (no matter how ‘modern’ and ‘enlightened’) would have a problem putting his life in the hands of a woman, no matter how skilled she is or how many times she did save his life.
Personally, I might consider it, except when she’s on her period/PMS. But then we’ll have to have some kind of system of identifying those who are going through PMS… it’s rather messy… so I say, do away with this whole women officers thing. ;p
Jonyboy – It’s not Kuwait. Every nation on earth has problems when the gender roles loosen. You cannot imagine the wails and moans when the US military integrated. Some of them – 30 years later – are still wailing and moaning, but meanwhile, women have become well integrated into most areas formerly reserved for the testosterone endowed.
None – No! No, you’re serious? I am sorry, I am shocked. What are the penalties if a sergeant is insubordinate to a colonel??
N. Amen, brother.
Darya! LOL, you DO have a creative, mildly evil mind! Share the proceeds! LLOOLLL!
Desert Girl – the most important words you said – this will change, slowly but surely, as the men come to realize how valuable and skilled the women are, and that they can – literally – bet their lives on the skills of these women, and their commitment to carry out their job. HHHOOOOAAAHHHH.
Amu – Would you salute?
Shaken – it’s not a joke. It’s not April Fools. As for putting you life in a woman’s hands, it happens all the time. You have doctors and nurses who operate on you, and who happen to be women. I a betting many of your teachers were women, and they guarded you and nurtured you with their lives. And . . . I am betting your Mother was a woman who risked her own life giving birth to you. Women are tough cookies, trust me. A woman who is PMS’ing is WAY more reliable than a horny man. But yeh, I think you had better salute if she is armed. π
This 50 KD solution is imported from Egypt (50 E pounds) because the Male soldiers / policemen refused to salute the females officers when they were inducted to the forces first time , So the female officers were given an allowance for waiving their solution privileges .
i guess Kuwait is contemplating that solution .My only reservation is they should raise the allowance to a reasonable amount say 80KD per month which is equivalent value to a nice hand bag
Daggero – I love it, and I totally agree with you. And the additional payment should be taken from the salaries of the guys who refuse to salute.
Even among men in the military, sometimes there is a superior officer you don’t respect, but you tell yourself “I am saluting the rank, not the person.”
For every person in the states who thought George W. was a jackass, but refrained from making it obvious, and gave him his due as our president (election stealing allegations aside), and treated him with the respect due the office, I just have to call bullshit on shaken’s post. If you are subordinate, you are subordinate and noone cares if you like it. Fall in line or leave.
We’ve all worked for people who weren’t worth ten seconds of our time, and had to behave in a respectful manner. You’ve made an excellent point, soupprincess, it’s all about self-control, and respect due the position. It’s called civility. Great input.