DIVERSITYDIVERSITY IN THE FIRE IN THE FIRE SERVICESERVICE

Goals and objectivesGoals and objectives

To promote a message about To promote a message about diversitydiversity and and its importance in the fire service.its importance in the fire service.

To discuss To discuss diversitydiversity while being while being inclusive inclusive to all members.to all members.

To promote good relations between persons To promote good relations between persons of different backgrounds.of different backgrounds.

To talk about stereotyping and its effects on To talk about stereotyping and its effects on us and our perception of other groups.us and our perception of other groups.

WHAT IS WHAT IS DIVERSITYDIVERSITY??

Amongst humans particularly in a social Amongst humans particularly in a social context, the term context, the term diversitydiversity refers to the refers to the presence in one population of a wide variety presence in one population of a wide variety of cultures, opinions, ethnic groups, of cultures, opinions, ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender, sexual preference, and so on…sexual preference, and so on…

Webster’s defines it as; differing from from Webster’s defines it as; differing from from one another….having varietyone another….having variety

What else is diversity?What else is diversity?

Understanding how and why we are more Understanding how and why we are more alike than we are alike than we are differentdifferent

What isn’t What isn’t Diversity?Diversity? It is It is notnot Political Correctness Political Correctness It is It is notnot saying the right words and having saying the right words and having

disdain in our actions and heartsdisdain in our actions and hearts It is It is notnot having to think just like everyone having to think just like everyone

else or following the crowdelse or following the crowd It is It is notnot therapy for those oppressed therapy for those oppressed

Cont’dCont’d

NotNot affirmative action/EEO affirmative action/EEO NotNot a program to correct a problem a program to correct a problem NotNot a promotion requirement a promotion requirement NotNot a gimmick a gimmick NotNot a Mistake a Mistake It allows others to be themselvesIt allows others to be themselves

Three Myths of DiversityThree Myths of Diversity

Myth of meritocracy; if you work hard you Myth of meritocracy; if you work hard you will be rewarded, you will make itwill be rewarded, you will make it

Myth of colorblindness; what’s wrong with Myth of colorblindness; what’s wrong with seeing color, are you senority blind? seeing color, are you senority blind? Rookies vs senior firefighters, generation Rookies vs senior firefighters, generation gapsgaps

Myth of a melting potMyth of a melting pot

Defining CultureDefining Culture

An integrated system of learned behavior patterns An integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of any given societythat are characteristic of any given society

It includes everything that a group of people It includes everything that a group of people thinks, says, does, and makesthinks, says, does, and makes

Culture is defined as a way of perceiving, Culture is defined as a way of perceiving, believing, evaluating and behavingbelieving, evaluating and behaving

It provides the blueprint that determines the way It provides the blueprint that determines the way an individual thinks, feels and behavesan individual thinks, feels and behaves

The problem with studying culture is its complexityThe problem with studying culture is its complexity

Culture Cont’dCulture Cont’d

Macro-culture; the national culture that is Macro-culture; the national culture that is shared by most of the nation’s citizensshared by most of the nation’s citizens

Micro-cultures or subcultures; cultural Micro-cultures or subcultures; cultural groups with distinct patterns that are not groups with distinct patterns that are not common to all Americans, patterns involving common to all Americans, patterns involving ethnicity, religion, economic status, political ethnicity, religion, economic status, political affiliation and moreaffiliation and more

Culture’s Cont’dCulture’s Cont’d

Group cultures; they include occupational Group cultures; they include occupational groups (fire service), peer groups, gangs, groups (fire service), peer groups, gangs, drug cultures, and other smaller, identifiable drug cultures, and other smaller, identifiable units of societyunits of society

Reasons for Reasons for diversitydiversity The fire service serves each and every The fire service serves each and every

community, regardless of ethnicity, gender, community, regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, background, economy, or any other race, background, economy, or any other factor, and also depends on the entire factor, and also depends on the entire community and country for its funding and community and country for its funding and support.support.

Why is diversity important?Why is diversity important?

It can enhance the organization’s It can enhance the organization’s responsiveness to an increasingly diverse responsiveness to an increasingly diverse world of customers (Mr. Mrs. Smith).world of customers (Mr. Mrs. Smith).

Improves relations with the surrounding Improves relations with the surrounding community.community.

Increase our organization’s ability to cope Increase our organization’s ability to cope with change.with change.

It can expand the creativity of the It can expand the creativity of the organization.organization.

Diverse backgroundsDiverse backgrounds

DiversityDiversity as a concept focuses on a broader set as a concept focuses on a broader set of qualities than race and gender.of qualities than race and gender.

In the context of the workplace, valuing In the context of the workplace, valuing diversitydiversity means creating a workplace that respects and means creating a workplace that respects and includes differences.includes differences.

Recognize the unique contributions that Recognize the unique contributions that individuals with many types of differences can individuals with many types of differences can make, and creating a work environment that make, and creating a work environment that maximizes the potential of maximizes the potential of allall employees. employees.

Remember that diversity doesn’t have to be Remember that diversity doesn’t have to be difficult.difficult.

All too often, fire and emergency service providers All too often, fire and emergency service providers are anxious about diversity, almost as if frightened are anxious about diversity, almost as if frightened by it.by it.

Remember if we promote Remember if we promote inclusivenessinclusiveness in our in our language between members, we won’t have to language between members, we won’t have to tiptoe around one another.tiptoe around one another.

Think about what you’re saying while putting Think about what you’re saying while putting yourself in the other person’s shoes.yourself in the other person’s shoes.

If you’re unsure about what’s acceptable, If you’re unsure about what’s acceptable, ask the other person.ask the other person.

Don’t let diversity scare you.Don’t let diversity scare you. Let it guide you.Let it guide you. For some, diversity doesn’t come naturally.For some, diversity doesn’t come naturally. Use it to promote dialog between us.Use it to promote dialog between us.

Dialog and listeningDialog and listening

Do you let people finish what they are trying Do you let people finish what they are trying to say before you speak?to say before you speak?

If a person hesitates, do you try to If a person hesitates, do you try to encourage him/her rather than starting your encourage him/her rather than starting your reply?reply?

Do you withhold judgment about the Do you withhold judgment about the person’s idea until he/she has finished?person’s idea until he/she has finished?

Cont’dCont’d

Can you listen non-judgmentally even if you Can you listen non-judgmentally even if you do not like the person who is talking?do not like the person who is talking?

Do you stop what you are doing and give full Do you stop what you are doing and give full attention when listening?attention when listening?

Do you give the person appropriate eye Do you give the person appropriate eye contact, head nods, and nonverbal signals contact, head nods, and nonverbal signals to indicate you’re listening?to indicate you’re listening?

Developing active listening skillsDeveloping active listening skills

1.1. Stop talkingStop talking 2.2. Put the speaker at easePut the speaker at ease 3.3. Don’t interruptDon’t interrupt 4.4. EmpathizeEmpathize 5.5. ParaphraseParaphrase 6.Ask open-ended questions6.Ask open-ended questions 7.7. Use silenceUse silence 8.8. Allow reflectionAllow reflection

BiasBias

One form of misconceptionOne form of misconception A preference without basis in factA preference without basis in fact Influences the way we relate to othersInfluences the way we relate to others We all have themWe all have them You should be aware of them and how they formYou should be aware of them and how they form Strive to better biases in relation to the interactions Strive to better biases in relation to the interactions

with different people with different people andand with people who are with people who are differentdifferent

Diversity in the workplace creates room for new Diversity in the workplace creates room for new ideas as well as the possibility of increased conflict.ideas as well as the possibility of increased conflict.

New recruits and veteran firefighters live together, New recruits and veteran firefighters live together, eat together and sleep together in a career that eat together and sleep together in a career that prides itself on tradition.prides itself on tradition.

Some may learn to tolerate differences within the Some may learn to tolerate differences within the normal workday, but old stereotypes, unconscious normal workday, but old stereotypes, unconscious behaviors, and occupational stress collide in behaviors, and occupational stress collide in volatile ways when living with co-workers on 24-volatile ways when living with co-workers on 24-hour shifts.hour shifts.

Diversity begins with recruitment and Diversity begins with recruitment and training.training.

It will not occur in the workforce simply It will not occur in the workforce simply because your department is located in a because your department is located in a diverse metropolitan area.diverse metropolitan area.

Nor will it happen because your department Nor will it happen because your department follows the law regarding non-discrimination.follows the law regarding non-discrimination.

In order to achieve diversity, you must have In order to achieve diversity, you must have an active recruiting strategy and take an active recruiting strategy and take effective actions.effective actions.

We must begin our diversity training during We must begin our diversity training during the recruiting process, which in turn will help the recruiting process, which in turn will help with the ever changing Fire Service.with the ever changing Fire Service.

Recruitment is a vital factor in creating an Recruitment is a vital factor in creating an inclusive environment for our members.inclusive environment for our members.

With recruitment, we have to maintain our With recruitment, we have to maintain our standards of hiring and not lower them to simply standards of hiring and not lower them to simply achieve diversity.achieve diversity.

Sexism, racism, and other forms of prejudice Sexism, racism, and other forms of prejudice continue to be obstacles for career firefighters.continue to be obstacles for career firefighters.

Weakness is the last thing you want to show as a Weakness is the last thing you want to show as a new recruit, and many times women and people of new recruit, and many times women and people of color leave the Fire Service in the midst of color leave the Fire Service in the midst of successful careers in order to avoid harassment. successful careers in order to avoid harassment.

The trend for the Fire Service is clearly The trend for the Fire Service is clearly moving towards inclusiveness.moving towards inclusiveness.

Women firefighters are the most recent and Women firefighters are the most recent and perhaps most dramatically different perhaps most dramatically different newcomer.newcomer.

They represent change in the culture of the They represent change in the culture of the Fire Service.Fire Service.

But not always a welcomed change.But not always a welcomed change.

Women in the Fire ServiceWomen in the Fire Service

Women face two conflicting sets of constraints.Women face two conflicting sets of constraints. In many ways they are expected to fit in and In many ways they are expected to fit in and

become “one of the guys”.become “one of the guys”. They are expected to share the same kinds of They are expected to share the same kinds of

humor, foods, and hobbies.humor, foods, and hobbies. Use the same station facilities and to perform Use the same station facilities and to perform

firefighting tasks using the same physical firefighting tasks using the same physical techniques as men.techniques as men.

Women are expected to conform to the Women are expected to conform to the dominant group’s ideas of what women dominant group’s ideas of what women (ladies) should be:(ladies) should be:

CompliantCompliant SubservientSubservient Smiling Smiling Never angryNever angry And above all, meeting men’s standards of And above all, meeting men’s standards of

physical attractiveness.physical attractiveness.

For women firefighters, these expectations overlap and For women firefighters, these expectations overlap and conflict with each other.conflict with each other.

Fire officers are praised for having a strong command Fire officers are praised for having a strong command presence and giving orders in a direct way; ladies aren’t.presence and giving orders in a direct way; ladies aren’t.

Many times women enter the Fire Service with an uphill Many times women enter the Fire Service with an uphill battle that continues throughout their career’s.battle that continues throughout their career’s.

They are constantly having to prove themselves and their They are constantly having to prove themselves and their worth, while their male counterparts don’t.worth, while their male counterparts don’t.

Many times they rely on affinity groups (Sirens) to help Many times they rely on affinity groups (Sirens) to help them with their needs and representation.them with their needs and representation.

Minorities in the Fire ServiceMinorities in the Fire Service

In the 1960’s, people of color began entering the In the 1960’s, people of color began entering the Fire Service in significant numbers.Fire Service in significant numbers.

In the 1970’s more minorities (Hispanics and In the 1970’s more minorities (Hispanics and Asians) and women began coming into the Fire Asians) and women began coming into the Fire Service in even greater numbers.Service in even greater numbers.

Many departments were under a Consent Decree.Many departments were under a Consent Decree. Local or Federal Governments mandated Local or Federal Governments mandated

affirmative action programs.affirmative action programs.

Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action

It is intended to promote access to It is intended to promote access to education, employment, or housing among education, employment, or housing among certain designated groups (typically, certain designated groups (typically, minorities or women). The stated motivation minorities or women). The stated motivation for AA policies is to redress the effects of for AA policies is to redress the effects of past discrimination and to encourage public past discrimination and to encourage public institutions such as universities, hospitals, institutions such as universities, hospitals, police and fire forces to be more police and fire forces to be more representative of the population.representative of the population.

Affirmative Action cont.Affirmative Action cont. It is commonly achieved through targeted recruitment It is commonly achieved through targeted recruitment

programs, by preferential treatment given to applicants programs, by preferential treatment given to applicants from designated groups, and in some cases through the from designated groups, and in some cases through the use of quotas.use of quotas.

It was started in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, but It was started in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, but has evolved signigicantly.has evolved signigicantly.

The original order required government contractors to take The original order required government contractors to take “affirmative action” to ensure equal treatment of applicants “affirmative action” to ensure equal treatment of applicants and employees “without regard to their race, creed, color, and employees “without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin.”or national origin.”

It is incentive basedIt is incentive based

Consent DecreeConsent Decree

When their AA programs fail or in extreme When their AA programs fail or in extreme cases when the employer has overtly defied cases when the employer has overtly defied equal opportunity employment, the federal equal opportunity employment, the federal government will impose a consent decree government will impose a consent decree on an agencyon an agency

It is usually initiated by a class action lawsuit It is usually initiated by a class action lawsuit It will layout specific details in hiring It will layout specific details in hiring

practices practices

Forcing departments to hire minorities and Forcing departments to hire minorities and women can often cause problems in the Fire women can often cause problems in the Fire Service.Service.

It is therefore not surprising that some It is therefore not surprising that some members of the dominant group should feel members of the dominant group should feel uneasy or sense a threat to their uneasy or sense a threat to their longstanding dominance of the workplace longstanding dominance of the workplace and its culture.and its culture.

This can lead to unfair treatment and This can lead to unfair treatment and harassment to minorities.harassment to minorities.

It also leads to resentment from the It also leads to resentment from the dominant group.dominant group.

LAFD is currently going through some LAFD is currently going through some personnel problems as a result of this.personnel problems as a result of this.

If we promote If we promote inclusivenessinclusiveness and dialog and dialog between us, we can avoid these problems.between us, we can avoid these problems.

We should have an understanding of each other in We should have an understanding of each other in being different while maintaining our own being different while maintaining our own identities.identities.

We are only of afraid of what we don’t understand.We are only of afraid of what we don’t understand. Sometimes we use humor to hide these fears.Sometimes we use humor to hide these fears. But often times our humor is harmful or detrimental But often times our humor is harmful or detrimental

to each other.to each other. This can lead to stereotyping and believing the This can lead to stereotyping and believing the

stereotypes associated with a particular group.stereotypes associated with a particular group.

StereotypingStereotyping A simplified and standardized conception or image A simplified and standardized conception or image

invested with special meaning and held in invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group.common by members of a group.

It’s a generalization of a group, culture, or beliefs.It’s a generalization of a group, culture, or beliefs. It starts at a young age.It starts at a young age. Sometimes it comes from home life.Sometimes it comes from home life. Sometimes it comes from school.Sometimes it comes from school. Many times stereotypes are reinforced in T.V. and Many times stereotypes are reinforced in T.V. and

movies.movies.

We as people of different backgrounds We as people of different backgrounds should try to break down stereotypes as to should try to break down stereotypes as to discount them.discount them.

In a social gathering, it is often at times easy In a social gathering, it is often at times easy to get caught up in stereotyping people.to get caught up in stereotyping people.

The pre-judging of people are where the The pre-judging of people are where the prejudices arise in our cultures.prejudices arise in our cultures.

Not all Black people can dance.Not all Black people can dance. Not all White guys can’t jump.Not all White guys can’t jump. Not all Asian people are good in math.Not all Asian people are good in math. Being Being inclusiveinclusive and getting to know each and getting to know each

other will help bring down the walls that other will help bring down the walls that separate our cultures, and it will allow us to separate our cultures, and it will allow us to keep our identities in the process.keep our identities in the process.

Something to think about:Something to think about: Dr. Steve Robbins teaches many organizations Dr. Steve Robbins teaches many organizations

across the country about “Unintentional across the country about “Unintentional Intolerance”: What you think you know might hurt Intolerance”: What you think you know might hurt others.others.

What is perceived as ‘the norm”?.What is perceived as ‘the norm”?. What’s our fears and how do we cope with them?What’s our fears and how do we cope with them? He teaches us to communicate with each other He teaches us to communicate with each other

and to be and to be inclusiveinclusive in our dialog. in our dialog. The “Salad Bowl” theory rather than the “Melting The “Salad Bowl” theory rather than the “Melting

Pot”.Pot”.

Company Officer Training Man.Company Officer Training Man.

Years ago, cultural diversity was described Years ago, cultural diversity was described as the melting pot. Today, it is often as the melting pot. Today, it is often compared to an orchestra.compared to an orchestra.

Each instrument belongs to a group that Each instrument belongs to a group that keeps its identity; each group is keeps its identity; each group is interdependent with other instrument interdependent with other instrument groups.groups.

Each instrument group contributes to the Each instrument group contributes to the overall orchestral harmony.overall orchestral harmony.

Likewise, in a cultural society, each group Likewise, in a cultural society, each group retains its group identity, is interdependent retains its group identity, is interdependent with other groups and contributes to overall with other groups and contributes to overall social harmony.social harmony.

As part of the Fire Service, you have your As part of the Fire Service, you have your own identity as an individual, yet you work own identity as an individual, yet you work side by side with others who think, look, side by side with others who think, look, sound and behave quite differently than you. sound and behave quite differently than you.

But your success depends upon good But your success depends upon good working relationships with everyone at the working relationships with everyone at the fire station.fire station.

Not only are you and your crew Not only are you and your crew interdependent among yourselves, you are interdependent among yourselves, you are also interdependent with others providing also interdependent with others providing public services and contributing to the public services and contributing to the overall harmony of society.overall harmony of society.

The public we serve is also diverse.The public we serve is also diverse. Improving your ability to understand your Improving your ability to understand your

colleagues will not only make the job easier colleagues will not only make the job easier for you, but will help you in dealing with the for you, but will help you in dealing with the public under sometimes stressful conditions.public under sometimes stressful conditions.

Go forth and be Go forth and be inclusiveinclusive in your doings. in your doings. Can’t we all just get along?!Can’t we all just get along?! Go LakersGo Lakers