A female firefighter may face gender discrimination or sexual harassment as a result of wearing protective gear designed for men. Furthermore, many fire departments set weight-lifting challenges for women, which many men fail to meet each year. Because a lot of firefighting gear is designed with the majority of users in mind, which are typically men, finding protective gear that fits is a major issue. Gender discrimination and sexual harassment can happen by accident or on purpose, making a female firefighter’s workplace hostile and abusive.
Being a firefighter necessitates the use of protective equipment. A female firefighter, on the other hand, cannot usually wear gear designed for men because women are typically smaller in stature and shaped differently. Wearing ill-fitting protective gear is also not an option because it increases the risk of severe burns or even death. Female firefighters have complained about ill-fitting gloves, boots, and coats. A woman may struggle to keep her face piece in the proper position if she can’t reach certain pockets or hooks.
Firefighting was once a male-dominated profession, but as time passes and stereotypes fade away, more women are joining the ranks. Despite this, surveys show that women are still denied promotions and training because of their gender. In one survey of nearly 250 women, 45 percent said they had been treated unfairly and denied opportunities that their male counterparts had received at least once. About half of the 45 percent said the problem is still present. However, because the importance of gender equality varies by region, problems like these may occur more or less frequently depending on where you are.
Sexual harassment complaints are more common among female firefighters than among male firefighters. According to one survey, 88 percent of more than 500 female firefighters said they had been sexually harassed at work. Some of the events covered in the survey were not illegal, but they were still considered unacceptable by other workplace standards. Other examples include unwelcome physical contact and demands, as well as blackmail for sexual favors.
Another unique challenge that a female firefighter faces is lifting and pulling heavy objects. On a bad day, a potential female firefighter can train for months and still lack the muscle required to run in heavy gear, lift special firefighting ladders, and do 75 push-ups. Because of how difficult firefighting training programs are for the bulkiest men, some of them drop out. Weight restrictions make it even more difficult for women, as they may require a potential female firefighter to gain muscle mass.