Women have had to fight for their place in society since the beginning of time. In many industries, they are still fighting for equality.
One industry in particular where women had to break through barriers is aviation. For years, aviation was a male-dominated field. But slowly and surely, women have been making their mark and proving that they are just as capable as their male counterparts.
Since the early days of aviation, women have been making their mark on the industry. Women have been breaking barriers and setting records from the Wright sisters to Amelia Earhart to Sally Ride.
Women in the Military
Since the beginning of time, women have had to fight for their place in society. They’ve been told they’re not strong enough, smart enough, or capable enough to do certain things – including serving in the military.
But women have always proven those doubters wrong; today, they make up a significant part of the aviation community. According to a recent study by the Department of Defense, women make up nearly 15% of all active-duty military personnel.
And while they’re still not allowed to serve in combat positions in most military branches, they are making great strides in breaking down those barriers.
Women have served in the military since World War I, when they were first recruited as nurses and support staff. However, it wasn’t until the end of World War II that women started to be welcomed in the aviation industry.
The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program was established in 1943, and over 1,000 women served as pilots during WWII. After the war ended, however, the WASP program was disbanded, and women were again relegated to support roles.
It wasn’t until 1976 that women were allowed to fly military aircraft again, and it wasn’t until 2013 that the Pentagon lifted its ban on women serving in combat positions.
Women in Commercial Aviation
The percentage of female pilots has nearly doubled since 2010.
This significantly increased from when women were not even allowed to fly airplanes. It was in 1973 that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that airlines could not discriminate against hiring female pilots.
Since then, women have been breaking barriers in the aviation industry and proving they are just as capable as their male counterparts. Today, many successful female pilots are flying for major airlines worldwide.
The Future of Women in Aviation
There is no doubt that women have changed the face of aviation. They have broken through the glass ceiling and are flying high in the skies. But what does the future hold for women in aviation?
There are currently more women pilots than ever before, and this trend is set to continue. However, we cannot rest on our laurels. There is s long way to go before gender equality is reached in aviation.
We are starting to see benefits from the numerous programmes that are being undertaken to encourage more women to pursue careers in this field. These initiatives are essential, but we also need to change the culture within aviation if we want to see more women succeed.
The future of women in aviation is bright. We have come so far, and there is no turning back.
