The Women of Security
Lets face it – the Security industry is currently such that it is largely dominated by men.
However in todays social climate, Women are making a point of letting the world know that they are here too. Women’s rights are just as important – their worth is just as much. Women should be paid equally, and treated fairly. Opinions, thoughts, grievances, whatever the topic, it shall be heard and it shall be addressed.
Women will no longer be silenced and women will no longer play the roll of the doting house wife that abides by man’s rules.
Having thought this would have all been addressed with the rise of Suffragettes in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, here we are again today revisiting women’s rights or lack there of.
For the most part, the Security industry is probably thought to be a mans world due to the fact that most people assume that a high amount of physical strength is required to be successful.
Men typically are stronger then women due to the way their built.
This however becomes a mute point when you compare a man who does nothing to physically improve himself, while you have a woman that has a physically fit lifestyle.
It also becomes irrelevant when you realize that the odds of you needing to lift a car, or doing something extremely physical are basically non existent.
Spoiler alert – you don’t need to be built like a tank and be able to lift ten times your body weight to do this job.
Security is first and foremost a mental job. Being mentally present and aware. Constantly thinking of not just your next steps, but the people around you. Planning in advance, and having back up plans. Just being prepared in general.
If something happens, your first instinct should not be to throw a punch.
There are many steps that can be taken to defuse a situation that don’t involve being physical – usually anyway.
Women in security are incredibly valuable for many reasons.
Women are great thinkers. A lot of thought typically goes behind their every move.
Some women are known to be emotional reactors – which is fine. Emotions are something that is relevant when someone is attached to something or someone. If a person is at work, while they may be emotionally attached to their job in some respects, the likelihood of an emotional reaction when it comes to security is typically fairly low. However if something does pull at their emotional heartstrings, you better believe she’s all of a sudden stronger then your ‘strongest guy’ – please see for example the mother bear. Nothing gets between her and her cubs.
Women tend to care more. They’re thoughtful, respectful, and often tend to deal with other people on a professional level much better then their male counterparts.
They are typically driven individuals that work hard to prove their point. Women don’t like to be wrong just as much as men don’t. While women tend to accept responsibility quicker, they will also be sure to fight for what they believe in and who they believe in, and when it comes to the workplace, this can be a huge advantage.
They are detail orientated. Nothing is missed. Incredibly handy for detailing plans or if it comes down to it, identifying line ups. A women can be your best witness.
Women in security or any male dominated field may actually have an advantage. As the number of women over men in this field may be less, favour may actually be handed down to some of the women based on the pressure and trying to be fair to both sides alone.
After a while, this may wear off as skills and personalities break down gender stereotypes and the person best fit for the roll will win – that still doesn’t mean it can’t be a woman.
While this all may seem extremely stereotypical – when you break it down at the end of the day, there is some truth in all of this.
Due to physical build and genes and hormones, the makeups of the two genders are very different.
This doesn’t however mean that they should be treated differently or paid differently or given different jobs. It may mean someone is better at a job then someone else, but that still goes both ways.
Women are incredibly valuable.
Just as Men are incredibly valuable.
And I definitely don’t think I need to even visit the race card.
Humans are valuable.
It doesn’t matter what shape, size, colour, breed, what have you. People matter.
A woman shouldn’t have to fight to prove her worth any more than a man does.
In the Security industry, especially at Sentinel Security Plus, the main things that matter are your capabilities, your desire, your work ethic, and your attitude.
We are a company that runs like a family. Everyone supports everyone.
Sometimes, especially in some places, this work environment is harder and harder to come by.
Your team is only as strong as your weakest link. If your team is lucky enough to have a women on it, there is a good chance she will be the one to help pick up your weakest link and help make them stronger. But thats not just what a good women does – thats what a good human does.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and 
experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent. She currently is on maternity leave and providing daily close protection for a baby and a toddler and spending time with her husband who is a Police Officer.
