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Female firefighters prove they exist to little girl | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Female firefighters have posted pictures of themselves on social media after a four-year-old girl said she thought only men could sign up. | |
Hannah Summers from London tweeted how her daughter Esme wished she was a boy so she could be a firefighter, as she only saw firemen in the books she read. | Hannah Summers from London tweeted how her daughter Esme wished she was a boy so she could be a firefighter, as she only saw firemen in the books she read. |
It prompted women firefighters across the country to post videos and pictures on Twitter to prove they exist. | It prompted women firefighters across the country to post videos and pictures on Twitter to prove they exist. |
Ms Summers later tweeted Esme "firmly believes she can be a firefighter". | Ms Summers later tweeted Esme "firmly believes she can be a firefighter". |
On Friday, freelance journalist Ms Summers asked on Twitter if there were any books or videos with women firefighters. | On Friday, freelance journalist Ms Summers asked on Twitter if there were any books or videos with women firefighters. |
She said: "My four-year-old came home yesterday saying she wished she was a boy so she could be a fireman. | She said: "My four-year-old came home yesterday saying she wished she was a boy so she could be a fireman. |
"When I said 'girls can be firefighters too', she said 'but I've seen in books they are all boys and I don't want to be the only girl'." | "When I said 'girls can be firefighters too', she said 'but I've seen in books they are all boys and I don't want to be the only girl'." |
Among the first to reply was West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) with a video carrying messages from serving female firefighters. | Among the first to reply was West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) with a video carrying messages from serving female firefighters. |
They tweeted: "Esme, lots of our firefighters are girls and boys - some of them want to say hello to you!" | They tweeted: "Esme, lots of our firefighters are girls and boys - some of them want to say hello to you!" |
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It was not long before others replied, even from as far away as New York. | |
London Fire Brigade stationed in Ealing tweeted: "We are London firefighters and we are girls. Hope we can meet you one day?" | |
Rebecca Rowe tweeted: "I'm also a firefighter in the London Fire Brigade. Your daughter can be anything she wants. | |
"Don't let gender stand in the way." | "Don't let gender stand in the way." |
Speaking to the BBC, Ms Summers said: "It was fantastic to get such a lovely response from WMFS. | Speaking to the BBC, Ms Summers said: "It was fantastic to get such a lovely response from WMFS. |
"The message obviously struck a chord with people as is evident from the massive amount of feedback we've had." | "The message obviously struck a chord with people as is evident from the massive amount of feedback we've had." |
Mother and daughter are now set to speak about women firefighters at Esme's nursery, before travelling to Birmingham to meet them in person. | Mother and daughter are now set to speak about women firefighters at Esme's nursery, before travelling to Birmingham to meet them in person. |
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) praised the video but said more needed to be done to recruit women in the fire service. According to the council, 95% of firefighters in England are male and white. | The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) praised the video but said more needed to be done to recruit women in the fire service. According to the council, 95% of firefighters in England are male and white. |
Currently only 8% of uniformed fire staff in WMFS are female. | Currently only 8% of uniformed fire staff in WMFS are female. |
A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "The message by Esme's mum just goes to highlight the stereotypes that still exist around women being firefighters despite WMFS having female firefighters for the past 30 years." | A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: "The message by Esme's mum just goes to highlight the stereotypes that still exist around women being firefighters despite WMFS having female firefighters for the past 30 years." |