Earlier this week, we had a #talkaboutitTuesdays interview with Ninah Nyongesa from Kenya who spoke about breaking the gender roles within the security industry. 10 years ago, the industry saw very little women pursuing security job roles, today we see a shift from a predominantly male job sector and the movement away from the stereotype that security roles are just for men. The team here at QCS felt it was needed to highlight some of the ways in which having more gender diversity has benefitted the security industry.
Equality and Empathy
Security workers have battled with the label of being ‘insensitive’ and ‘unsympathetic’ in some circumstances. The inclusion of women in security job roles has created a balance and changed the outlook for members of the public regarding the perception of security workers. With women working in security, it has allowed more people from the public to approach and confide in security workers. Women generally feel more comfortable speaking to other women particularly in scenarios where they are being followed or harassed in a public place or even if they are a concerned mother needing assistance in locating a missing child. Uniform aside, female security workers will have encountered a similar personal experience directly or through someone close to them, allowing empathy and trust to be built between them and members of the public.
Leadership
You may have seen recent news praising New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern successfully managing the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Unlike many leaders who are using individualistic and brutal approaches to retain control, Ardern has used empathy and solidarity through daily briefings to maintain order which has been received with positive feedback. Figures such as Ardern have helped shape the notion that women are just as capable to be diplomatic and fulfil leadership roles in other industries. The security industry has encouraged senior and managerial positions to be fulfilled by women. In general, women within managerial positions has created an equilibrium particularly when it comes to building solid team relations and providing emotional intelligence to problem-solving and risk management. A study conducted by the Pew Research Centre in 2015 found that “34% of American workers feel female executives are more honest and ethical” (Pew Social Trends, 2015), which enables transparency and success within companies.
Women entering the security industry has certainly influenced policies and a focus on diversity particularly encouraging members from BAME, LGBT and disabled backgrounds to pursue security roles. As we move towards a more inclusive and interconnected community, we hope to see more diversity and encouragement of equality within the security industry in the next decade.
On Thursday 30th April at 6pm UK time, the SIA in partnership with Axis are hosting a webinar on developing women leaders in the workplace. Further details can be found here, please note you will have to register details to access.
