Gender. World Peace, home and family

Why Boeing is full of crap.

Boeing Co’s communications chief Niel Golightly abruptly resigned on Thursday, following an employee’s complaint over an article the former U.S. military pilot wrote 33 years ago arguing women should not serve in combat.

His exit leaves Boeing trying to fill the crucial role for the fourth time in less than three years, just as it is battling to shore up its brand after the prolonged safety grounding of its Boeing 737 MAX jetliner.

According to an excerpt on the U.S. Naval Institute website, the December 1987 article titled “No Right to Fight” said: “At issue is not whether women can fire M-60s, dogfight MiGs, or drive tanks. Introducing women into combat would destroy the exclusively male intangibles of war fighting and the feminine images of what men fight for — peace, home, family.”

Honestly, as an American born in Washington DC in 1950, growing up thru the Cold War, Bay of Pigs and Vietnam years — this seemed strange to me.

On closer examination, it is clear that Golightly’s resignation has nothing to do with gender equality. It’s a move to improve the corporate image by board members, already feeling pressure from the 15-month-old MAX crisis.

Although Boeing has touted its strong commitment to improving diversity, though the number of women on its executive council has fallen from five to two since the beginning of 2019, according to Boeing’s annual report.