Female Security Officers

[SecurityChap]

Hi all. This isn’t a job alert and I’m not selling anything. I am trying to make positive changes to the Security Industry and make it a more attractive place for the underrepresented. I am male, pale and stale so I don’t want assume things but I’d really love some feed back on 2 questions.

1. what are the main barriers stopping females/mothers from joining the industry.
2. if not already answered what would attract you into the industry? Thank you in advance for any answers/opinions you have. I’d really love to understand so I can start to make positive changes.

Why are you trying to make positive changes? Do you work for the SIA?

Hi. No. I’m an in-house security manager at a University. It’s simply because it is such a male dominated industry but there are so many opportunities for all. We can make assumptions about why eg long hours, but I’d like to better understand before forming a plan.

I think that's great, and I'm sure your employer would agree. I wonder whether women are more worried than men about being alone on campus during unsocial hours? Perhaps in job ads you could stress the team working and support? And if you think women are being put off by the hours, you could advertise roles with 'flexible hours available'. Do you have any women on your team at all? They might have some insight. Alternatively, you could ask the women who are already on campus but in different roles. Is security work better paid than cleaning or catering? Or is it about the same?

If you want to DM me, feel free. I'm a CP

I'm not sure if this is helpful but my Exdh is a security manager and has been for a very long time. He runs several teams in buildings in Central London. He would agree and bemoan that there aren't enough women because the ones who have worked for him have been some of his best team members but almost always it was shift times and the impact on childcare that caused them to move to other roles.

There was one he lost due to inappropriate behaviour from some of the male colleagues but in fairness he dismissed the ring leader (it did classify as sexual harassment) and was devastated it had gone that far. Exdh , despite him being my ex , was hugely against any form of sexual innuendos or "banter" in his team and they knew this. I will say that he was very aware not all teams were like that. He did often say that he had stepped in several times where the culture (where he wasn't a manager ) was not great to women.

I only know this because I was married to him but I guess if word gets around it may put women off. Which is a pity because he always viewed them as incredibly effective at defusing situations (at the time I had a role that could be risky and he always said he could understand why I could shut down issues faster than my towering male colleagues).

Security has always beens a "mans job". I've been in the industry enough years to see how that discriminatory attitude has now changed for the better, but you still get exactly what u described above @Shinyletsbebadguys and there are still guys who treat women like they're crap and can't do a "mans job".