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oh my god, i'm a girl!!
I have never met such a chauvinistic bunch of emergency service workers until I joined Firefighter Nation.
I've noticed posts made by female firefighters complaining that they are treated differently within their departments because of their sex and I admit, I was surprised. It's something I've not encountered within my own company. Why would your gender make any difference if you are there to do the same job? So I reply to a few posts, letting them know that it isn't the same everywhere and what kind of responses do I get? Well apparently, if the guys aren't saying it to my face, they are saying it behind my back. Didn't I know? My favorite reply though was "Yippee for you." Wow.
Um, we are all there to do a JOB. If you are either a female worrying that you are being treated unequally or a male stressing that your sisters can't do the job as well as you can- I hate to be the one to tell you, but you aren't doing the job!
I didn't become a Captain because of who I know, who I blow, or because I am a "minority" (another darling little insult). And yes, yippee me, I am where I am today because I have proved I can hold my own, do a great job and have earned the respect of my brothers- be they men or women, because does it really make a difference in the long run? When I am choosing my teams, assigning tasks, taking in a crew; I don't see men and women, black and white, pink hoods or white (another interesting discussion), I see firefighters.
Kudos to FJFC for being a forward-thinking, open-minded, job-oriented working fire company! There are a few things we could teach those other departments out there.
Get over yourself. Grow up. Be a firefighter.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Rob on February 14, 2009 at 3:36am
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I am happy to say you are correct that it is not everywhere. I have no problem with women in the fire service, so long as they can do the job. I have met a few that thought they needed to be allowed to slide becaude they can't do certian things (that irritates me) and others who get flat pissed at the ones who want special treatment (those are the ones that can usually kick my ass on the fireground). I have only had 3 or 4 in my 18 years that I sat back and asked myself what are they thinking. I have met far more guys who I ask the same question (probably 8 to 10 a year on the guys). Of course it is not a s common to see a female so of course the numbers are going to be lower (both of good firefighters and of the duds) but again, when the shit hits the fan and the gear goes on, so long as I know the firefighter next to me (or behind, in front, you know what I mean) is able to do the job, I don't give a rats ass wheater that FF is black, white, chinese, american indian, male, female, or whatever you want to say!
You have to be doing something right, you got one of the largest groups on FFN and lots of good training info being passed back and forth there by guys and gals who don't give a damn what sex the person on the other end is.
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Comment by Engine 32 Capt. on April 7, 2008 at 9:05pm
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Right on Sister! I tend to find that (around here) alot of that mentality comes from the rural departments that still "vote" members on or off the department (a process I'm not sure I'll ever understand). You can be Chief today, and a line firefighter tomorrow because you pissed someone off and they got enough people to vote against you. Seems like those types of systems (again, around here) breed the "Good Ol' Boy" way of thinking...and it's sad, but they'll never accept females.
Anywho...Keep up the strong work, hold your head up high and KICK ASS. Most of all, be safe.
PS - Dogs rule.
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Comment by James BRUMMETT on January 30, 2008 at 10:02pm
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Good for you, the FD where I'm at has several female FF, and we treat them all like we treat everyone else!
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Comment by Capkurt on January 18, 2008 at 4:17pm
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I agree 100% also. I have worked with several females during my career (both paid and POC) and have never noticed any difference in the ability to get the job done and done right the first time.
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Comment by Greenman on January 9, 2008 at 8:55pm
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Excellent post, CPT.
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Comment by ee779 on December 3, 2007 at 10:48pm
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Hey Jenner, I haven't heard from you for awhile! I have to agree with Allen on this one! Stay strong and safe!
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Comment by Allen Wahlstrom on December 3, 2007 at 6:18pm
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Sounds like there are bunch of guys who need to put on their big boy undies and grow up.
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Comment by Jennifer McFarland on December 3, 2007 at 5:35pm
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Great blog!!
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Comment by Jerry Stafford on December 3, 2007 at 3:43pm
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My first experience with women in the Fire service was the Volunteer Dept in the next Township. While the men were working in town during the day, the women covered the area. I for one would never want to compete with them in any situation. Those girls made most of the guys take a backseat when it came to doing their jobs. Don't ever let anyone say you can't do your job, make them prove differently. Hang in there, things have to get better someday.
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Comment by Jeff VE6EFR on December 3, 2007 at 3:14pm
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Great blog entry. Thanks for posting.
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