The History Of Women Firefighters

50 years ago women did not grow up being told they could be anything they wanted.  Parents did not encourage little girls to be firefighters, policewomen, combat fighters, truck drivers or any other profession formerly occupied by women only.  How things have changed.  During WW11 many women were recruited to drive trucks, but combat and any job involving physical strength was thought to be too difficult for a woman.

In 1974 Judy Brewer, in Arlington, Virginia, became the first career firefighter in the United States.  States like California, Washington, and New York followed suit within the next few years, but it was a battle.  I was in a ballet barre class recently where the instructor was talking about her neighbor, one of the first woman firefighters in San Diego.  Her name is Wendy, but in order to sit for the written exam, she had to register as Wendall.  If they had known she was a girl before she actually showed up, she would not have been allowed to take the test.  In the early days of women firefighters men expressed concerns that the women might not "have their backs" in an emergency.  The physical requirements for strength and agility are the same for women as they are for men, and through the years men have, by and large, accepted women as equals.

In the early years, the 1970's and 1980's, there was a great deal of discrimination and harassment by men who had women in their firehouse.  Through training and experience, most men have come to accept women as firefighters.  I have a friend who has relative that even became fire chief in a small town in Southern California, but not without a lot of years proving herself.  I think she had to be so much better than any of the other candidates to get a position like that!

Today women work alongside men in combat, police and fire.  It's great to see that the glass ceiling has been broken in this field.  Women cadets at the military academies are commonplace, but not without years of struggle to be accepted.  Those women are tough.  I admire their dedication and their ability to stick with the program.  In our city of San Diego, we have a woman police chief.  Women are breaking glass ceilings everywhere?  Will a woman president be next?