Title:

Gender and Firefighting

Date:

August 2004

Organisations

MFB

Authors:

Dr Sue Lewis 

Location:

Victoria, VIC, Australia

Overview

Gender and fire fighting is the first of three reports examining gender issues in fire services, here and internationally.  This report looks at the challenges fire agencies face when trying to establish a more gender balanced service.  
Some of the key themes discussed are:

• The international context for gender and firefighting
• A sex segregated occupation
• Gender profile of the MFB and other metropolitan fire services in Australia
• Previous MFB initiatives
• Some gender theory and practice
• Joking at work
• Gender at work
• The field of gender and male dominated occupations
• Gender linked differences in style
• Gender and organisational culture
• Gender issues in firefighter culture
• Masculinity and fire service culture
• A culture of bullying and putting down difference
• Raising gender in mostly male contexts
• Jokes elevate stereotypical masculine culture
• We treat everyone the same’
• Sexual harassment and abuse
• The experience of women firefighters
• The experience of corporate women in fire services

This thought provoking report highlights the challenges of creating organisational cultural change where male and female attributes are both valued, without the program being seen as favoring female attributes over male or placing a negative connotation on either.

The report concludes with a number of recommendations for the MFB on creating a cultural gender balance change.

Related documents
Gender and Fire fighting Training
This is the second report from the MFB on Gender issues

Gender and Firefighter Selection and Recruitment
This is the third report from the MFB on Gender issues

Only members can add comments, please login to comment.

Links

• AFAC Corporate site
• KWeb Forums
• BISI