Thick skin, shower games and family penalties: an examination of barriers faced by women in the US fire service

Purpose This study aims to explore the lived experiences of women within the US fire service and identify the barriers they face in this complex public service field. The fire service is a vital part of a nation’s critical infrastructure providing a myriad of emergency services in communities large and small. However, firefighting is a male-dominated profession. With less than 10% of the US firefighting workforce being women, firefighting is ranked lowest among public safety occupations. More must be done to recruit and retain women in the fire service. To identify what should be done, the authors designed this study to explore the lived experiences of women within the US fire service with the intention of using the information the authors acquire to recommend strategies designed to mitigate the gender-bias challenges women firefighters face. The authors hold a transformative worldview, knowing that to make effective changes to mitigate inequalities, we must better understand the experiences of those marginalized. Design/methodology/approach To accomplish their objectives, the authors implemented an exploratory approach using structured interviews to better understand the lived experiences of women firefighters. Findings Findings from this study revealed five overarching themes that interfere with women’s ability to serve: microaggressive behavior; sexual harassment; lack of role models; family penalty and pressures; and organizational support. Practical implications Based on these findings, the authors have identified a series of policy and strategy recommendations for implementation by leaders and decision-makers that can mitigate these barriers and improve the recruitment and retention of women firefighters, ultimately improving women’s representation in the fire service. Originality/value This study offers an opportunity to better understand the barriers women face while operating in a complex public service environment through an examination of a nexus of literature, including issues discussed in two recent articles published in Volume 16 of the International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management (Koepple et al., 2022a, 2022b). The purpose of this study extends beyond understanding the barriers women face as members of the fire service to applying that information to develop strategies aimed at mitigating these barriers to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the US fire service.