Working in a "Man's Job"

When Pat first started out on the line she faced discrimination because she was a woman. At one point Pat received a phone call from a bitter older woman (who was probably the mother of a man who didn't make the cut as a firefighter). The older woman claimed that Pat had taken a job away from a man who needed to support his family. However Pat was a single parent and had a family of her own to support. This was one of the first incidences of a double standard that Pat had to face regarding her career as a firefighter.

Another issue Pat mentioned throughout the course of the interview was that this job is one of the only careers where the title refers to the position being a "man's job". Pat has always referred to herself as one of the "guys", but to her it was always in a gender-neutral manner. To this day, as Pat enters a classroom she is still referred to as a fireman. The children are being taught that despite the fact that Pat is a woman, that it is okay to call her position in the department a fireman. Pat responds to this by saying: "I don't look anything like a man, that I know". Once the kids realized that she is a woman they are much more receptive to what she has to say then they are to her male counterparts. Pat believes that this might be due to the fact that she is a less threatening figure to them.

As a woman, Pat is appalled by the fact that as a firefighter this is the only career that does not carry a gender neutral title that is most commonly used. A correction officer, a postal worker, and a police officer all are given gender-neutral titles. The term firefighter has not caught on with the majority of people yet. Even when Pat is at a conference, she will sometimes hear the speaker say "Okay gentlemen." Pat will look around and say, "what the hell am I?" She does not know if this is a personal dig or if it is like her saying "the guys." If a speaker does realize that there is a woman in the room he or she will switch to "gentlemen and ladies" versus just "gentlemen."

"The thing I have to be careful with is [the word] 'firefighter'. The 'firefighters' on the line. The 'firefighters' are here. The 'firefighters' are there. I just say 'the guys'."

Pat has had to break through many barriers and cross a lot of bridges to make her job livable. "There are a lot of barriers to cross and I feel that I have done really good with those going into a man's position and I've towed the line. I've done everything I've been asked. I've been here twenty years." Pat has chosen not to remain a victim to the harassment and discrimination that she has faced, rather she has chosen to learn from these incidences. When she first started she was asked some questions by fellow firefighters.

Firefighter: "What happens when you're in a fire and someone grabs you in the wrong place?"

Pat: "You grab me once I don't have a problem with that. You grab me twice and I'll slap (*punch*) you!"

Firefighter: "What would you do if you fell through the floor and someone's hand comes down to grab you and get you out…you don't know whose hand that is on the other end, they get you out and they go what if it was her?"

Pat: "What if it was me? Would that be different if it had been any of the other guys?"

Pat has been forced to work twice as hard in order to prove herself. She has been second-guessed causing her to work even harder.

Pat believes that it takes a special personality to be a woman in this position. Pat chose to "roll with the punches and put up with the bullshit." She feels that she had opened up the door to the guys to feel comfortable around her. The rapport that she built on her own terms has been ruined due in part to the changing times. The women who have served since Pat have chosen a different path to follow in regards to the guys. Pat says, "One of us learned to live with the brothers and the other chose to rub with the brothers."

Despite the apparent gender differences within this job, the pay is equal. There is a seniority list that all firefighters must work their way up in order to receive a raise. There are set values with no special treatment or pay increases outside of seniority and rank. Although Pat could retire at this time, it would not be worth it because she loves her job. The satisfaction of helping others has been driving her to continue.

When asked if she felt a sense of worth and accomplishment with her job:

"I'm pretty proud of myself. A woman going into a man's position. Being here for twenty years and being recognized. Three years ago I received the award 'firefighter of the year' for all the prevention and indicating I did here. I was proud of that. I was really impressed because at the awards banquet we have every year, the firefighters submit different names and the executive board figures out who gets the different awards and I guess I was nominated".

Pat is very proud of her accomplishments. She has proven herself in her twenty years on the job. Pat did not know what she was entering when she started but she has made the best of her career choice, on her own terms.