I'm a female firefighter who had to work twice as hard for the same opportunities given to men

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I'm a female firefighter who had to work twice as hard for the same opportunities given more readily to men

I've never thought of my gender as a barrier. Growing up, we never talked about gender roles in my home. My older brother and I were inseparable as kids, and so I did whatever he did, even things stereotypically thought of as masculine.

I've always felt like 'one of the boys,' and so I was surprised by the reactions when I joined the fire serviceInitially, I felt very welcomed. But I also felt, at times, as if I had to prove myself — possibly more than my male counterparts. Spraying water with heavy hoses, working from ladders with tools and saws, pulling apart pieces of a building to find more of a fire, carrying heavy equipment like generators or fans.

We also frequently have to deal with people who are in the midst of losing property, such as houses or vehicles, to fires or disasters. This can be really hard to watch. And of course, anytime we're around anyone losing their life, it's understandably a difficult situation. Aside from that, my day-to-day is filled with taking emergency calls, leading training, and attending meetings.

 

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