Updated: 11/28/2008 5:22 PM KSTP.com | 
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By: Leah McLean
MCLEAN: Airman vs. Airwoman?
I've gotten a few emails asking why the women of the Air Force are called "airmen" so I thought I would expain it as best I can.
In the Air Force "Airman" is an official rank. If you ask a woman her rank and she's a senior airman, that's what she'll say, not senior airwoman.
It seems a little backward to someone who's used to talking about people like councilmembers instead of councilmen, firefighters instead of firemen and Congress members instead of congressmen.
Things have changed in the last serveral years with more women getting involved in typically male-dominated jobs. Most organizations have adapted. Perhaps the Air Force is a little slow to change.
If you hear me refer to women as airmen, I'm trying to be as accurate as I can with the Air Force's terminology.
