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Royal Canadian Navy plans to replace 'seaman' with gender-neutral term
thepostmillennial.com ^ | Sam Edwards July 17, 2020 8:45 AM

Posted on 07/17/2020 7:00:57 AM PDT by Red Badger

"What this will do is ensure a safe environment so there is no double entendre," Gates said. "We want to make sure our most junior members understand and feel safe when they are being called their rank."

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The Royal Canadian Navy is planning to replace the term "seaman" for its junior sailors as they are searching for a term that is more gender neutral. Sailors in the Canadian military will be able to weigh in on the topic and so will the public, according to Chek News.

The woman responsible for the personnel policy in Canada’s navy is Cmdr. Deborah-Lynn Gates. She said that the navy is now taking new steps to become more inclusive and diverse.

"We appreciate tradition," Gates said when speaking with The Canadian Press. "And we’re not downplaying tradition absolutely at all. But it’s truly a matter for us to show that we are progressive and that we are listening and we are really, truly representative of Canadian society."

The term "seaman" has been used by Navies across the world for many many years and the Canadian Navy uses terms like "master seaman," "leading seaman," "able seaman" and "ordinary seaman."

Gates also claims that the navy is trying to make sure their most junior members can feel proud of their ranks and feel safe.

"What this will do is ensure a safe environment so there is no double entendre," Gates said. "Definitely at the tactical level, we want to make sure our most junior members understand and feel safe when they are being called their rank, being called their name or being addressed."

ADs

Beginning Friday, the public and members of the navy will have the ability to vote for two alternatives for the term, both of which replace "seaman" with "sailor" in different ways.

One of the ways replaces existing "seaman" ranks with "sailor" and the other replaces terms like "leading" and "able" with "sailor first-class" and "sailor second-class."

Alternative terms can also be suggested.

The online poll will take place until the end of the month and senior commanders will receive the results and then make the decision.

The cabinet will eventually have to approve the suggested change.

Critics have come forward online saying that removing the term will result in a loss of tradition. Some add that political correctness is not needed in the navy. Others who are for the move say it is long overdue. ADs

Gates pointed to the current sailor shortage in the navy noting that the term may potentially turn people away from signing up.

"When they hear you’ll start off as an ordinary seaman, it’s maybe just a little thing, but it did not resonate," Gates said. "So we know it’s not resonating with recruits and for us it’s a matter of making sure we’re being representative and that we are modern and forward-looking."


TOPICS: Canada; Foreign Affairs; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: canada; canuck; navy; sailor
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To: sojc

I remember a headline in the old Pittsburgh Press one Saturday in 1985.

Some of those Greenpeace idiots had sailed over from Alaska to the shore of the USSR to protest Soviet whaling. Of course they all got picked-up and tossed in the Russian hoosegow. The State Department deputized the Mayor of Nome to go over and negotiate their release.

That headline on the morning they were expected to be sprung read,

“RELEASE OF SEAMEN EXPECTED”

LOL!


21 posted on 07/17/2020 7:41:10 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: sojc
Good move. Sailor does sound much better than seaman regardless of any gender sensitivity. Our 10 yr old brains ruined seaman a long time ago.

Using my 10 year old brain, let's change the name to "Jizz."

22 posted on 07/17/2020 7:50:18 AM PDT by Thommas
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To: Red Badger
terms like "master seaman," "leading seaman," "able seaman" and "ordinary seaman."

master jizz, leading jizz, able jizz, ordinary jizz...

23 posted on 07/17/2020 7:52:00 AM PDT by Thommas
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To: Red Badger

How about “Gob”?


24 posted on 07/17/2020 7:54:58 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: Red Badger

Seamonkeys?


25 posted on 07/17/2020 8:05:04 AM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: Red Badger

“trying to make sure their most junior members can feel proud of their ranks and feel safe.”

Unsafe? Effing snowflakes.... Wonder what the issue of the day is in the Red Chinese Navy? I bet it ain’t this...


26 posted on 07/17/2020 8:11:03 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: Red Badger

Women have no place on Navy ships, except hospital ships.


27 posted on 07/17/2020 8:11:45 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: Red Badger

Several years ago, Canada thought it would be a good idea to integrate its army, navy and air force into one unified service—including ranks. Chiefs became sergeants, seamen became privates. I don’t think they liked it.


28 posted on 07/17/2020 8:20:48 AM PDT by hanamizu
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To: Red Badger

Bob’s Burgers S09E13 - “Bed, Bob and Beyond”

Tina: “Seamen spilled all over the deck”

Linda: “TINA!”


29 posted on 07/17/2020 9:18:11 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Red Badger

Sailor ... “or” is masculine

aviator vs aviatrix

e.g., Amelia Earhart

senator vs senatrix

e.g., Senatrix Theadora

see also: dominatrix


30 posted on 07/17/2020 9:36:27 AM PDT by Redmen4ever (u)
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To: ripnbang

Never seen them so far to sea


31 posted on 07/17/2020 2:00:34 PM PDT by Polynikes ( Hakkaa paalle)
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To: Red Badger

Is “lucky pierre” taken?


32 posted on 07/17/2020 2:01:27 PM PDT by Polynikes ( Hakkaa paalle)
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To: Red Badger

I came to say the same thing. Duh.

Why do people make things more difficult than they need to be.


33 posted on 07/17/2020 2:33:45 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Thommas

And if they are not “able” there is a pill for that.


34 posted on 07/17/2020 2:35:59 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: rickmichaels

I’m in South Carolina and I’m 76 years old, fifty years ago we would look at a guy like the one sitting to the right of Trump and someone would comment, “If he ain’t queer he missed a damned good opportunity.”


35 posted on 07/18/2020 12:21:46 PM PDT by RipSawyer
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To: TokarevM57

The Marines are always looking for a few good persons.


36 posted on 07/18/2020 12:24:35 PM PDT by RipSawyer
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