Did you know that female police officers in England and Wales make up 31.2% of the workforce, according to recent data? Yet when it comes to the security industry, women make up a modest 11%.
So what happened to girl power when it comes to the security industry, ladies?
The police force knows very well that women are a very valuable part of the force. Sometimes there are tasks that can only be done by female officers, such as searching for a suspect. And then there are times when, even though a man can also do the job, senior police officers know that female officers can do a much better job. Female officers are used in many areas of policing, especially when there is a crime of a sexual nature and the victim is a woman. And female officers do not need a male partner. It is often the case that two female officers team up on the beat. They make a good team and can be less threatening and more calm but assertive than male officers.
So why is the number of female security guards still so low?
The reason is that many misunderstandings are still believed about the security industry. Many years ago, the police boosted the recruitment of women by letting potential female recruits know that some things are just not true. Things like these:
You have to be strong like a bodybuilder
No, you don’t. You have to be physically fit, just like policewomen, but you don’t have to be very strong.
It’s a man’s job
There is no such thing unless you believe in it. Of course, it is true that women, in general, prefer certain jobs. Women have a caring and nurturing nature, and many naturally prefer other industries. But generalising is just that. Not all men or women are the same. There is always an opportunity for you as a security guard if you think you would enjoy the role. I mean, if it’s not for you, then OK. But many women relish the opportunity. If you like meeting people and managing conflict, then maybe it’s for you. In terms of conflict management, women tend to do this on a daily basis anyway. In fact, if you’re a mother, you’ll be good at handling arguments and conflicts in a calm but authoritative way that gets results.
I’m too small
No, you are not. In fact, many years ago the police force had a recruitment problem. They were desperate to recruit more Asian women to force, but found that many Asian policewomen who wanted to become Asian policewomen were smaller than their required height. So they removed the minimum height requirements over the years to allow shorter women to join the force. You can be a policewoman even if you are a small 4ft 10in. The same goes for security work. There are no minimum height requirements, and being short has its advantages. Of course, being short has its disadvantages in everyday life and in society. Shorter can but does not always equal smaller and weaker. But if you team up with a taller male security guard, you could be part of the dream team.
So what are the advantages? It’s simply a matter of reversing the disadvantages. First of all, we are part of a society that, while it may be considered acceptable to hit a man (which it isn’t), hitting a woman is a whole different ball game. And hitting a little woman is one of the worst things a person can do. Therefore, if you work in security as a woman and you think you are in danger, it is very unlikely that you will be hurt.
In addition, women and, in particular, small women are considered the least threatening members of society. While a male security guard looks particularly threatening, a small woman offers the opposite advantage. An important part of security work is managing conflict and defusing potential problems.
A small woman has generally learned that she cannot deal with situations physically throughout her life. But this usually means that they are masters of negotiation. And can often deal with situations much more calmly and intelligently than larger men and women.
So don’t think that if you’re a small security guard, you won’t get hired – far from it. Employers are looking for you.
So what are the attributes that make a great security professional?
- physical fitness
- communication skills
- observation skills
- decision-making skills.
- honesty
- dedicated to personal safety
Other benefits of entering the industry are that you are in demand and it is quick and easy to qualify.
Think about it, with only 11% of security professionals being women, you are needed. Employers are clamouring for female security guards because they are needed for certain tasks and deal with female clients. For example, a man cannot search for a customer, and he certainly cannot enter the ladies room. As such, there will be absolutely no shortage of jobs for you.
