livendive 8 #26 August 26, 2003 I have my female tandem students sit on my lap...I also have my male tandem students sit on my lap. It's just the easiest way to get them hooked up, cinched down, and ready to exit. I touch all of my students chest straps and leg straps, be they tandems or "continuing" students. Even if someone else gears them up for me, I feel more comfortable actually touching each thing I check, including buckles, handles, and excess strap stowage. Comments when gearing a student up should certainly be restricted to the productive, non-threatening variety, especially when faced with having to mention breasts or balls. I offer a one-arm friendly hug/backpat thing to every tandem student after landing. While this may not be "professional", it affords a last moment of comradery, and is at least better than those TM's who request a hug only from their female students. I did date a gal once who went through our student program, but I waited until she was off student status. I think it would be perfectly reasonable to establish a dropzone policy like this. We also ran off a JM we had who was bothering a female student. Of course in addition to making inappropriate comments and contact, he started showing up at her work, so now he's a couple thousand miles away. Probably the most controversial thing I do is kisspass every novice (off-student status) that I take on their first two-way (male or female), as a means of introducing fun/goofiness into skydiving as opposed to all the learning objective stuff they've been working on up to this point. If I ever have one complain, I'll stop doing this. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skr 1 #27 September 19, 2003 You can make a list of specifics but I think the tone is set by the DZO and influenced by the most experienced jumpers. If the DZO hits on women students that trickles down and attracts instructors who do likewise. If the DZO doesn't tolerate it, that trickles down too. skr Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themitchyone 0 #28 September 21, 2003 Quote ...making them sit on their lap, smoking while briefing a student and smelling like beer from the night before... Geez, the JMs at my DZ aren't like that whatsoever. They are cool, friendly, and funny, and maybe a JM might be somewhat flirty, but never inappropriate. Frankly, if an instructor is tightening the chest and leg straps, getting close to the "danger zones" is inevitable, and there's no problem with that. But I guess if they were saying, "hey, nice tits" in the process that would be another story! "If the Bible has taught us nothing else, and it hasn't, it's that girls should stick to girl's sports such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing." - Homer Simpson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crwmike 0 #29 September 22, 2003 First, I am going to reply on the assumption that that your questioning male instructors actions toward female students was not an intended bias. I'm a Registered Nurse and my job requires me to touch patients (male and female) in ways so intimate it makes adjusting a chest strap about as intimate an act as nodding hello from 100 feet away ...never had a problem or complaint. What it comes down to is communication and professional attitude. Tell them what you are going to be doing and why it is important. Conduct yourself as a professional and your actions will not only not be interpreted as inapproptiate, they will be greatly appreciated. It's just that simple. CRW Skies, Michael QuoteAs part of the training staff on our DZ, we have become very aware of the Instructors and JM's acting in a way that would not be tolerated in normal work conditions. As our DZ is getting busier and we are starting to get more clients/customers, we are looking to lay down some guidelines in terms of conduct at the DZ for training staff. Things like the male JM's not touching a female students chest strap inappropriately, or making them sit on their lap, smoking while briefing a student and smelling like beer from the night before. I am looking for suggestions from girls on things that they would have liked to avoid and make the experience more pleasant for the students to be on the DZ and get proper attention. I am not sure you can do much about the JM's dating the students [.;)]but there are definitely other aspects we can advise on. What is your opinion? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
