From Underrepresented to Empowered: Women in 911 Leadership

Empowering women is a crucial step towards achieving gender equality in all spheres of life, including 911 leadership roles. When women are empowered, they gain confidence, knowledge, and skills, which enables them to overcome gender barriers and achieve their full potential. In turn, empowered women become agents of change who inspire and empower other women to succeed, creating a ripple effect that benefits all women.

“The glass ceiling will go away when women help other women break through that ceiling.” Indra Nooyi

This International Women's Day we are discussing the disproportionately low rate of women leadership in 911 and why empowering women to be leaders in 911 is crucial. One reason why women are underrepresented in leadership roles in 911 is the existence of gender stereotypes and biases. For example, some people believe that women are not emotionally stable enough to handle the demands of these roles. Others assume that women lack the leadership skills required to lead a team effectively. Such stereotypes and biases can lead to women being overlooked for promotion or not being taken seriously in the workplace.

To combat these biases, it is essential to empower women to succeed in leadership roles. Here are some steps that can be taken to empower women:

MENTORSHIP

Provide mentorship and networking opportunities: One of the most effective ways to empower women is to provide them with access to mentors and networking opportunities. Mentors can offer guidance, advice, and support to women who are looking to advance in their careers. Similarly, networking events can help women to make connections with other professionals in their field, which can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Offer training and development programs: To empower women to succeed in leadership roles, it is essential to provide them with training and development opportunities. This can include courses on leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and other essential skills for public safety professionals.

WORK CULTURE

Create a supportive workplace culture: Women are more likely to succeed in leadership roles when they work in a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion. To create such a workplace culture, agencies and organizations can implement policies that promote work-life balance, offer flexible schedules, and provide support for employees who are facing personal or professional challenges.

RECOGNITION

Recognize and celebrate women's achievements: It is essential to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women in 911 to inspire and empower other women to succeed. This can be done through awards programs, public recognition, and other forms of acknowledgment such as saying her name in the meetings where top leadership is gathered.

GENDER EQUALITY

Advocate for gender equality: To create lasting change, it is essential to advocate for gender equality at all levels. This can include advocating for policies that promote diversity and inclusion, challenging gender stereotypes and biases, and supporting women's leadership development programs.

“When you help a woman fulfill her potential, magic happens.” Sara Blakely

When women are empowered to succeed in public safety leadership roles, they can make a significant difference in their organizations and communities. When women succeed, they become agents of change who inspire and empower other women, creating a ripple effect that benefits all women. For example, women leaders in 911 can ensure that emergency calls are handled with sensitivity and empathy, particularly for vulnerable populations such as victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. Similarly, women leaders in police departments can bring a different perspective to community policing efforts and improve relations between the police and the communities they serve.

911der Women Inc. is one organization that works to empower and advance women in 911. I have worked with Sara Weston, PMP, ENP (the Executive Director and Founder of 911der Women) and have seen firsthand the impact that the organization can have on empowering women in 911. By providing an engaging community, networking opportunities, professional development resources, and even scholarship opportunities, we are helping to break down the barriers that prevent women from reaching leadership roles in public safety.

911der Women's professional development resources include training programs and courses on essential skills for public safety professionals, such as leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. By offering these resources, we are helping to close the gender gap and increase the possibility of women being considered for leadership roles. We also offer networking events and online communities where women in 911 can connect with each other and build supportive relationships.

At 911der Women, we are committed to advocating for gender equality in 911 and beyond. We believe that by empowering women to succeed in leadership roles, we can create a more inclusive and effective public safety system that benefits everyone. If this is your first time hearing about 911der Women, please check us out we have so much to offer from our upcoming Empower 5k to monthly Empower Panels, to in-person workshops. We hope to see you soon!

Written by: Valerie Minor, MS - 911der Women, Inc. Marketing and Communications Committee Co-Chair

Check out our other locations!

Website: www.911derwomen.com

Facebook Page: facebook.com/911derWomen

Facebook Group (women in 911 only): facebook.com/groups/911derwomen

Instagram: @911derwomen

Spotify: Empower Panel Podcast

Spotify: Music Playlists

Crowdcast: crowdcast.io/@911der-women