One of the tasks of the Bulgarian Chamber of Security and Protection (BCSP) is to monitor and analyze the state and trends in the security sector. In March, we are focusing on girls in the security profession, traditionally considered a “male territory”. According to a recent BCSP study, in larger security companies the number of women in the security staff can reach 35%. This shows that women can be fully competitive with men in terms of competence and quality of work, as long as they are given the opportunity to develop their potential.
BCSP conducted a survey among managers and owners of security companies and the general opinion is that the public image of the “security guard” profession is that of a “male profession”. However, women have long proven that they have many qualities that can even surpass their colleagues of the opposite sex, such as better discipline and manageability, more adequate actions in many cases, more effective concentration, a better approach, especially for schools and kindergartens. In most guarded facilities, the respectful element is no longer relied on and, due to the huge deficit of people willing to work as guards, women are becoming a sought-after resource, and not only in facilities where a representative of the fairer sex is mandatory (for example, if physical checks of women are required).
Recently, a journalist shared with me the opinion that low-paid professions are feminizing and that the fact that more and more women are entering the guarding profession means that men do not find the pay for this profession attractive. Judging by the analytical study conducted by the Bulgarian Security Council on the prestige of the security profession, the statement is most likely true – security work is unattractive, mainly due to the low pay and high demands placed on it. However, women are more likely to work for less money, unlike men, for which gender and personality characteristics play a role.
Although still relevant, the topic of lower pay for women is rather clichéd, so I will leave it on the back burner and focus on the career development opportunities for women in security and the extent to which gender discrimination exists.
Although managers and clients declare that security guards are evaluated on their qualities, and not on gender, somehow we do not know many women in particularly high positions in the security field. Not that there are none at all, but they are so few that they seem like an exception, not something common. There are indeed several security companies run by women, but the fact is that all of these companies were founded by men and there is not a single security company founded and developed into a successful business by a woman.
From personal experience, after 25 years in the security industry, I can say that when competitions are announced for attractive management positions in security, there is often a condition set for the recruitment agency not to interview women at all. I learned this by chance later from male colleagues who were admitted to the selection, wondering why I was not admitted to an interview, even though I am a top candidate for the position in terms of professional background and competencies.
Despite what has been said so far, I can also say from personal experience that women have the opportunity to develop a career in security, as long as they really want it. However, women have to invest three times more time and effort, prove themselves much longer and be many times more competent in order to succeed in fighting for a managerial position in security. When a woman has strong enough motivation, works and proves her professionalism indisputably and for a long enough period, she can achieve recognition and a career. But probably a long time after that, if she tells someone that she works, for example, in a security company, she may be asked: “Do you work in Human Resources or Accounting?”
In the field of cybersecurity, the situation is similar – men predominate, women are definitely few. Probably for the purpose of mutual support and mutual assistance, or to attract attention, there are already several functioning associations – of women in cybersecurity, in technology, etc. The question here, in fact, is whether the presence of a thematic women's association or forum does not emphasize the differences and distinctions between the sexes in the relevant economic sector, instead of fighting against overcoming them. I had a professor at the Military Academy who, when I asked him how to combat hidden discrimination, answered me in the following way: “You cannot beat men on their own turf. Even if you succeed, they will never accept you as one of them. Your advantage lies precisely in your difference. Use it! It gives you valuable qualities that will make you a useful and equal member of the team you work in.”
Years ago I intended to create a women's section in the Bulgarian Security Council, but upon closer analysis I actually did not find out what exactly this group of women would fight for. If we have the opportunity to work TOGETHER with men, to have the opportunity to develop our professionalism in an environment of challenges, to achieve success precisely because our differences allow us to complement each other, to learn from each other, to be each other's correctives and to improve ourselves in this way, only then will the boundaries be blurred and gender will not matter for the career.
Finally, on the occasion of March 8, to all the "masculine" girls who had the courage to choose the professional path of security, I wish will, energy and inspiration for high professional achievements, but also to preserve their feminine tenderness, beauty and charm!
Author:
Nikoleta Atanasova, Ph.D., President of the Bulgarian Security Council and an expert with 25 years of experience in the field of security
