Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
WOMEN ARE now entering professions that they may not have previously considered, or have been considered for. Take the security guard field. There are more female security guards now than ever before but just how do they cope with the rigours of a male-dominated domain? Three of them shared their stories with Flair.
MARILYN
I have been with the company I'm currently contracted to for the past three years. I entered this profession because I didn't have the necessary qualifications to get a different job. I don't enjoy it much because I have to work 12 hours per day, six days per week, leaving me with little or no time to spend with my family.
I have a two-year-old child and I'm not able to spend as much time with him as I'd like to. I want to find a new job before the end of next year, because this one is proving to be much too stressful. I have no time to go out. I have a boyfriend and he wants me to leave the job because I don't have time for him or the children. But I have to stick with the job even though I'm fed up because I need my independence. I hope to go back to school to do some CXCs because without them you can't get a good job.
"The place where I'm posted now isn't dangerous, so I have no need for a firearm. At one point my company wanted to move me - they wanted to put me to work at the wharf - but I prefer to stay where I am, because it is a better working environment. The only danger is when I am walking to the bus stop late at night to go home. I don't walk home in my uniform because security guards tend to be targeted.
"Too many police and security guards are being killed. Many people generally don't respect the security guards. Many behave as if they are better than us. The pay is very unsatisfactory and I think my company is robbing me because I know of other companies that pay better. The job could be made a bit easier if the hours were reduced, then I wouldn't find it so hectic."
CAROL
"I couldn't find any other job, and I was successful with this one so I went ahead with it. I've been in the security business for seven years and I mostly enjoy the job. When I go on special assignments, I get the chance to go to many places that I would otherwise not have the chance to visit, and I meet many people who I may never have met.
"One bad thing about the job is that some people disrespect us and give too much trouble. There are those who treat us nicely and those who treat us as if we are "nobodies". Some are just disrespectful to male guards and female guards alike. The hours are long, and sometimes I feel very tired and other times I don't. I work 12 hours per day, six days per week, and for one day out of the work week, I have an eight-hour work day.
Night duty can be easier because there are fewer people to handle; but it can be tiring because everyone needs their rest. I like to go to parties but I hardly get to do that anymore. Some weekends I can go out as long as I don't have to work the following day. I've been doing this for so long that I have grown accustomed to it. I have a boyfriend and he doesn't have a problem with the job. When he met me I was in the job, so he understands. If I wasn't a security guard, I'd like to be a secretary. I plan on doing some courses and when I've passed those, I will leave this job. One other thing I would like to pursue is cooking. I think I'd be good at that, because I like to cook.
To make the job easier for everyone, I think we should be put on staff, as we are merely contract workers. We should be given more benefits. I wish we could have more eight-hour days but I doubt that will happen. I doubt that anything will be done to make things better. The salary is insufficient for the load of work and the hours are long but at least I can feed myself and cover some bills.
SHARON
I don't like this job at all. I just do it because I haven't much of a choice. I would prefer to do a different job. This month I am going back to school to do Math and English in CXC. I want to learn accounting. I hate the hours the most. We have to work 12-hour days, which I feel is too much. It can be enjoyable sometimes especially since I get the chance to meet so many different people, but the hours are unbearable.
I don't have any relationships because I would not have any time to spend with anyone. I am not satisfied with my company because I believe that they can pay us better. I wouldn't encourage anyone to join this profession. Sometimes people give me trouble and get feisty with me, but I just bite my lip. I do not carry a firearm because when you have one people are more likely to target you. They won't respect if you're a man or a woman - they will kill you for the gun just the same.
Names have been changed.
