Britain’s North West Evening Mail reports that nation’s department of defense is considering whether or not to allow women to serve on subs. Women have gone to sea on submarines in pilot studies in the past, but presently only the Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Australian, and Canadian navies allow women on submarines.

The primary objections to the new inclusiveness are the possibility of minute radiation affecting chromosomes in pregnancy; screening equipment in submarine toilets that may not be capable of dealing with items like tampons; and the belief that having women and men working in close, cramped quarters could “create tension.” Plus, “it might worry submariners’ wives if women go on subs,” according to one merchant seaman who is a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet corps.

However, it’s the Ministry of Defense that will be making the decision. A spokesperson told the paper, “The UK is bound by law to reassess occupations from which women are excluded every eight years. We expect the review will be completed in early 2010 and once the results have been evaluated we will publish our conclusions.”

Until then, I’ll join the Evening Mail in letting local businessperson Sally Broom have the last word.

“As far as I am aware, the only ‘official’ reasons for women not being allowed to spend time in submarines at depth are lack of facilities, and medical concerns surrounding pregnancy. In this case facilities should be made available and there should be no issue for women who are not pregnant.

“A traditional and ‘unofficial’ viewpoint is that the presence of women leads to lack of focus. But the idea that, as soon as a woman sets foot on a submarine with a team of highly drilled, disciplined men, the whole thing would collapse into a lustful mess is an absurd insult to both male and female sailors.