- The Canadian military made a statement supporting women in uniform days after a spiritual author suggested women should "stick to being feminine" instead of serving in the military.
- Author and columnist Lori Alexander questioned "how men could be attracted to women dressed as men like female police officers and females in the military."
- Alexander's message received over 5,000 comments as of Monday afternoon, with criticism from many current and former service members and law-enforcement officers.
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The Canadian military tweeted a video supporting women in uniform days after a spiritual author suggested that women should not serve in the military and should instead "stick to being feminine."
"They've always dressed for the job. They've always dressed like us. They are Us," the official Twitter account for the Canadian Armed Forces in the United States said in a video featuring women in military uniform.
The message came three days after author and columnist Lori Alexander questioned "how men could be attracted to women dressed as men like female police officers and females in the military," though the Canadian military's tweet did not directly reference Alexander's comments.
"These are men's jobs," Alexander said in a tweet that went viral. "If they weren't, then women could dress like women in these jobs but they can't. Stick to being feminine, women."
Alexander's original tweet spread across social media and military groups, receiving more than 5,000 comments as of Monday afternoon. Many current and former service members and law-enforcement officers criticized her statement with their own experience in their respective organizations.
Alexander, who authors the self-help blog "The Transformed Wife," frequently provokes controversy with posts asking questions like "should mothers have careers."
A mother of four who describes herself as a "Born Again Christian," Alexander has claimed she received support for the views expressed on her blog.
"It took off like wildfire," Alexander told USA Today in December 2018. "Of course, in general, men prefer women without tons of debt. People were telling me to take it down, saying I was shaming women. But I also got support - why shouldn't I be able to speak my opinion to women who are virgins, with no debt or tattoos, encouraging them?"
Roughly 15% of troops in the Canadian armed forces are women, the service found in a 2018 study. The number is generally the same in the US military, where 16 to 18% of troops are women, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
They've always dressed for the job.
They've always dressed like us.
They are Us. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/s0NfQmtDAN
- Canadian Forces in 🇺🇸 (@CAFinUS) February 23, 2020My firefighters are amazing, they are doing it for their communities! It's not about attraction! They are amazing 👍 pic.twitter.com/YErOKBL6WD
- Craig Thomas (@craig_thomas111) February 21, 2020My husband of nearly 27 years thought I was cute even when I came home from my Deputy Sheriff job with muddy boots. There's no such thing men's jobs and women's jobs...just jobs. Some jobs have uniforms that best allow people to do the job. #DressLikeAWoman pic.twitter.com/5rhdRxWTrd
- Rachel K. Ivey (@RachelKIvey) February 22, 2020Me as a special a few years back. I think I look fit 👌🏻 and it didn't stop me from doing my job. Whereas if I wore a skirt I wouldn't be able to restrain people ok the floor or jump over fences 🤷🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/w7srLgV8vm
- RDO Lisa Burnett (@DCP_RDOBURNETT) February 21, 2020I couldn't be prouder to work along side such amazing, strong, independent women! Representing Merseyside, in a force that reflects the community it serves, a large part of that community is women, who have every right to make there home a safer place, and look amazing doing it! pic.twitter.com/HE2d7w8acA
- Mike@SaferRoadsTeam (@SC2432) February 21, 2020In this picture, I've just flown the best part of 400 people across the Atlantic. Thank God I wore my skirt on this trip, wouldn't want to disappoint all the men on board...👩🏻✈️✈ #stongfemale #professionalpilot pic.twitter.com/I5PklkQWB1
- McGirl (@Vanillapilotlhr) February 21, 2020