Whether motherhood is part of your plan or not, it’s an important milestone for many women. But motherhood comes with a lot of responsibility. When we think about firefighting as a career, many of us wonder, “Can I be a mom and a firefighter at the same time?”
Traci and Monica say, “Absolutely.”
“I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter since I was a little girl,” Traci says. “But I didn’t know if I could do it and be a mom.” As she proudly bounces her child on her knee, Traci adds, “But here I am. And you can do it, too.”
Monica also balances firefighting with motherhood. “Growing up, I always dreamed of having a job that helped my community. But I also wanted to be a mom. I now have two boys who are 7 and 10.
But when I joined the department, I wondered if I could be a good mom at the same time,” Monica says. “But I’ve made both dreams come true.”
Firefighting is a flexible career that’s perfect for parents. The ladies of SAFD successfully raise their families while serving the community as strong firefighters.
Thanks to flexible shifts and a strong work family, there’s no reason to think firefighting could prevent you from being a strong mother or spouse if that’s part of your plan
Myth #1
Firefighting is
only for men
Girls are conditioned from a young age to accept “feminine” careers like teaching or administration. As young girls, we’re taught to think things like “That’s not ladylike” or “Girls can’t do that.”
This is the reason firefighting is so often mistaken as a male-exclusive career. It’s a reality because we make it that way in our minds; not because it’s a true reflection of our capabilities as women in the real world. The women of SAFD are living proof that this harmful myth is, fortunately,
a lie.
Gina joined SAFD when she was in her twenties. Like many people, she was in college and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. “Being a firefighter was always in the back of my mind. I figured that now was the time to make the jump. I entered the department when I was 22 years old,” Gina says.
Kourtney was an athlete her entire life. At age 26, she was a graduate assistant for the UT Tyler softball team. But she realized that the job wasn’t what she wanted to do.
Kourtney felt that her talents as an athlete could be used to serve the community, so she began looking into careers at the fire department. Kourtney soon realized that being a firefighter is very similar to being an athlete. “You have the teamwork, physical fitness, and being part of a family,” Kourtney says.
I know sometimes females are apprehensive about going into the fire department because of our size. But if I can do it, you can do it,”
Women are just as strong as men. While we may not always have the upper-body strength of men, we make up for it with core and leg strength. Thanks to conditioning classes and teamwork, you build strength alongside your brothers and sisters in the fire department, too.
Jennifer and Chelsea, two firefighters in SAFD, had similar concerns about their strength but soon realized their fears were unfounded.
“I wanted to be a firefighter since I was a teenager,” Jennifer says. “I was concerned if I was physically capable of doing the job. But I’m doing it. Persistence and drive are key.”
Chelsea had similar concerns. “I was worried about being able to physically hang with the guys. But I went to conditioning classes and realized that I could do just as much as they could. And you can, too, if you put your heart into it,” she says.
These strong firefighters disprove the idea that women can’t be firefighters because of physical strength. We are mentally tough and physically fit enough to serve our communities.
Myth #2
I'm not
strong enough
Myth #3
I can't have a family and be a firefighter
Myth #1
Firefighting is
only for men
Myth #2
I'm not
strong enough
Myth #3
I can't have a family and be a firefighter
And did Gina let a boy’s club stop her? Not in the slightest. “Women are strong. We do what we want, and we can accomplish anything we set our minds to,” Gina added.
Once upon a time, women weren’t engineers, soldiers, or professors. Today, that’s a different story. We’ve proved time and time again that anything a man can do, we can do, too. Biology has nothing to do with your heart, grit, and will to serve.
Women are strong. We do what we want, and we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.
Growing up, I always dreamed of having a job that helped my community. But I also wanted to be a mom"
Play
Play
Play
Myth #2
Myth #3
Myth #1
Firefighting is
only for men
Kourtney was an athlete her entire life. At age 26, she was a graduate assistant for the UT Tyler softball team. But she realized that the job wasn’t what she wanted to do.
Kourtney felt that her talents as an athlete could be used to serve the community, so she began looking into careers at the fire department. Kourtney soon realized that being a firefighter is very similar to being an athlete. “You have the teamwork, physical fitness, and being part of a family,” Kourtney says.
I know sometimes females are apprehensive about going into the fire department because of our size. But if I can do it, you can do it.
Women are just as strong as men. While we may not always have the upper-body strength of men, we make up for it with core and leg strength. Thanks to conditioning classes and teamwork, you build strength alongside your brothers and sisters in the fire department, too.
Jennifer and Chelsea, two firefighters in SAFD, had similar concerns about their strength but soon realized their fears were unfounded.
“I wanted to be a firefighter since I was a teenager,” Jennifer says. “I was concerned if I was physically capable of doing the job. But I’m doing it. Persistence and drive are key.”
Chelsea had similar concerns. “I was worried about being able to physically hang with the guys. But I went to conditioning classes and realized that I could do just as much as they could. And you can, too, if you put your heart into it,” she says.
These strong firefighters disprove the idea that women can’t be firefighters because of physical strength. We are mentally tough and physically fit enough to serve our communities.
Myth #2
I'm not
strong enough
Myth #3
I can't have a family and be a firefighter
Myth #1
Firefighting is
only for men
Myth #2
I'm not
strong enough
Myth #3
I can't have a family and be a firefighter
Play
Myth #1
Myth #3
Whether motherhood is part of your plan or not, it’s an important milestone for many women. But motherhood comes with a lot of responsibility. When we think about firefighting as a career, many of us wonder, “Can I be a mom and a firefighter at the same time?”
Traci and Monica say, “Absolutely.”
“I’ve always wanted to be a firefighter since I was a little girl,” Traci says. “But I didn’t know if I could do it and be a mom.” As she proudly bounces her child on her knee, Traci adds, “But here I am. And you can do it, too.”
Monica also balances firefighting with motherhood. “Growing up, I always dreamed of having a job that helped my community. But I also wanted to be a mom. I now have two boys who are 7 and 10.
But when I joined the department, I wondered if I could be a good mom at the same time,” Monica says. “But I’ve made both dreams come true.”
Firefighting is a flexible career that’s perfect for parents. The ladies of SAFD successfully raise their families while serving the community as strong firefighters.
Thanks to flexible shifts and a strong work family, there’s no reason to think firefighting could prevent you from being a strong mother or spouse if that’s part of your plan
Myth #1
Firefighting is
only for men
Myth #2
I'm not
strong enough
Myth #3
I can't have a family and be a firefighter
Myth #1
Firefighting is
only for men
Myth #2
I'm not
strong enough
Myth #3
I can't have a family and be a firefighter
Growing up, I always dreamed of having a job that helped my community. But I also wanted to be a mom.
Play
Myth #1
Myth #2