The bias starts at a young age, from picture books to the fancy dress box, girls are just not encouraged enough to consider traditionally male dominated careers such as becoming a firefighter.
But they do exist, and they are smashing it!
We are getting behind this year’s International Women’s Day campaign; #BeatTheBias. Over the next couple of weeks, we will use our voice and post images, stories and quotes from women who work in BFRS. We want our future female workforce to know there is a place for them in the fire service, and we can’t wait to meet our future firefighters, support staff and leaders.
We thought there was no better place to start then to ask our Fire Authority Chairman, Lesley Clarke OBE FRSA for her thoughts on this day
“I wonder are you aware that 1911 was the first time International Women’s Day was celebrated and that was in America….but only as late as 1975 did the United Nations recognise International Women’s Day?
We have seen significant changes in both women’s equality and emancipation. Women have come a long way with more, a lot more to achieve, but we at least have a voice now. So let us, women that is, use this voice to the best of our ability, to ensure that the future generations of girls and women are equal partners of this world. Today, more than ever, we remember those women who are facing war; exploitation in all its ugly forms, unfair treatment in the workplace and elsewhere – so let us make a difference. Think globally but act locally – make the future for all girls and all women across the world safe, bright and above all recognise that we are very much an equal partner in this world we share!”
