The First Women In A Man’s World

Believe it or not, the first female firefighter goes back to the early 1800s! Her name was Molly Williams; she lived in New York and was a slave. She was ‘owned’ by a New York merchant who was also a volunteer with the Oceanus Engine Company. He would bring Ms. Williams with him to cook meals for the men and do whatever chores he would ask of her. With all the time spent there, she became knowledgeable about how the bucket line worked and then the hoses introduced at the time.

In 1818, there was a terrible blizzard, and almost all of the firemen were sick with influenza. Molly took it upon herself to help the few men who were still able to work and proved she could do the job just as well as any of them. She was dubbed volunteer #11 with the department and honored for her life-saving skills. Molly even has a book written about her to inspire all the young girls out there!

It would be over 150 years before the first woman was paid to save lives.

The first paid female firefighter is Mary Joy Langdon, hired in 1976 in the United Kingdom. In 1979, Anne Barry applied to the New Zealand Fire Service but was rejected several times for various reasons, including being too short or having poor eyesight – all of these excuses proven fraudulent. In 1981 she won a two-year battle with the Fire Service Commission, allowing her to apply and begin her award-winning career.

On this side of the ocean, the United States experienced a similar battle. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, prohibiting discrimination of equal opportunity based on color, race, religion, sex, or national origin. In the 1970s, there was a second wave of feminism, and things finally began to change. But it still took a decade for it to reach the fire department in the United States.

It wasn’t until 1982 that the first female firefighter was hired in the United States, but not without a battle.

In 1977, the NYFD announced that women could take the fire exam. Brenda Berkman, a law student, and 90 others jumped on the opportunity. After passing the written exam, all failed the physical part. The test was not geared towards job-related skills but admittedly, purposely designed to keep women out. Berkman requested a fairer test but was ignored until she filed a discrimination lawsuit with dozens of others.

Less than a year later, although her performance was exemplary, she was fired for ‘lack of physical ability.’ In 1983, she and another woman filed another lawsuit for unfair treatment and repeated sexual harassment and won. She proved being a firefighter isn’t all about physical ability and retired as a Captain in 2006.

In a small way, I was trying to challenge the stereotypes and fears that keep us from achieving our greatest potential.

Brenda Berkman

To this day, only 15% of the country’s firefighters are women, but I have no doubt that will grow in years to come. Thank you, ladies, for the courage to fight the fires while battling discrimination.

First woman police officer …

Marie Connolly Owens was the first woman police officer in the United States. Marie, born to Irish immigrants and raised in Canada, moved to the United States when she married. She became a widow at 35 with five children when her husband died of Typhoid Fever.

In Chicago, not long after, an ordinance passed to protect children from working in the factories at a young age and combat the deplorable conditions for their mothers. Marie applied for the job and, in 1891, became a public health inspector. She did such an outstanding job that the Chief of Police noticed and offered her an opportunity on the police force.

After passing the civil service exam with a 99, she became the first paid female police officer.

She took a personal interest in the well-being of the children and families working in the factories. Witnessing the abuse and conditions these poverty-stricken families were forced to work in, not only did she make sure the establishment was held accountable, but she gave generously to make sure the families ate, and the children were given some education.

This remarkable woman did what she had to do to put food on her table and did it to the absolute best of her ability saving other women and children from further suffering. I imagine she felt this could have been she and her family.

I like to do police work, it gives me a chance to help women and children who need help.

Marie Connelly Owens

In 1923, at the age of 70, she retired as a detective sergeant and moved to New York to live with her daughter. When she died four years later, there was no mention of her 32 years on the police force. Matter of fact, I found a story of a grandson who had no idea of his grandmother’s amazing accomplishments.

For me, there aren’t enough words for such a noble woman.

First female in the military …

From Plimpton, Massachusetts, Deborah Sampson was one of 7 children living in poverty after her father disappeared. Ultimately, her mom had to give them away to different families, and Deborah became an indentured servant. At 18, she became a free woman and began to teach. In 1782, as the Revolutionary War continued, she decided to join the Continental Army.

Women were not permitted to serve in the military, so she disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff. Deborah was so strong and capable; she was appointed to the Light Infantry at West Point. This particular group of soldiers was given special tasks, and Ms. Sampson led charges and was a part of secret assignments

Sampson was injured multiple times, and according to a few sources, removed a musket ball from her own thigh so nobody would learn her true identity.

Within two years, she was revealed as a woman, and General George Washington honorably discharged her.

She fought to receive a pension and was ultimately paid for her service. Not only was Deborah Sampson a hero, but on the advice of her friend, Paul Revere, she became the first woman to be a toured lecturer. She shared stories all over the northeast of her military experience and proudly dressed in her full military clothes.

I burst the tyrant bands, which held my sex in awe, and clandestinely, or by stealth, grasped an opportunity, which custom and the world seemed to deny, as a natural privilege.

Deborah Sampson

I really love how proud she was of her accomplishments and continued proving that upon her death. On one side of her tombstone it reads, ‘Deborah wife of Benjamin Gannett’ while the other side reads ‘Deborah Sampson Gannett, Robert Shurtliff, The Female Soldier Service 1781-1783’. I may have to take a road trip to check that out!

Some thoughts …

What I appreciated most learning about Deborah Sampson, Marie Connelly Owens, and Molly Williams is their back story. Each one of them faced extreme hardship and used it to become stronger. None of them did it to prove anything to anyone else or to be a heroine, yet they are. Unbeknownst to them at the time, their fortitude would be something for me and so many others to be proud of and be a permanent part of history.

Brenda Berkman grew up aware of the gender preferences in society and chose to fight a battle knowing the adversity she would face in an establishment deeply rooted in male dominance. But she did it anyway and set a precedent for the future of us and our children.

I learned so much this month, and I have to give a shout-out to the principal from the school I work in. Every morning she chose different women to highlight with videos and stories, as she did during Black History Month. It does my heart good to see that education is changing and evolving. Who would have thought a 58-year-old woman would be learning so much sitting in a 5th-grade class!

I will not stop writing or learning about amazing women because our history month is over, so don’t be surprised if a blog pops up once in a while. I think it’s important to spread some light on lesser-known individuals who have a story to tell.

**************************************************************************************

As today is also Palm Sunday and Passover has begun, I pray you all feel the love and safety of your faith and wish you blessings of good health.

Love always,

Sandy

#enlighten #empower #inspire #educate