Women in Public Safety, Experiences of

Women in the United States and other Western countries have begun to enter public service professions in ever-increasing numbers. This is due in part to an overall societal attitude that discrimination in all its forms, including gender and workplace discrimination, should be ended. It is also due to the simple realization that women can fill public service roles, including those related to public safety, just as well as men. For the purposes of this entry, two public safety professions from which women have been excluded in the past are discussed: (1) firefighters and (2) police officers. This entry provides a historical overview of women in public safety professions in the United States, a review of the current situation, and an analysis of the psychological factors ...