Working Fire: Recruitment and Retention of Women Firefighters
Abstract
Until the early 1970s, it was illegal for women to serve in the U.S. fire service. Since then, data have revealed that the national population of women in career structural firefighting has scarcely risen above 4percent of the approximately 380,000 total personnel. Similar industries, such as the military and law enforcement, have increased their female hiring in recent years. By looking at the primary obstacles in fire service integration, including gender-neutral physical fitness exams, socio-cultural dynamics, parental leave issues, and promotional obstacles, this research analyzes gaps in available data as well as makes cohesive recommendations to shift focus away from recruitment and toward retention. Fire service leaders are offered models of understanding for how to identify issues within their agencies and engineer policies for improved integration of women. The thesis concludes that the successful integration of women into the fire service requires a combination of intentional leadership, male mentorship, and realistic expectations for recruitment from a historically small female candidate pool.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1201607
Entities
People
- Heather L Marques
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School