I was very well respected in most jobs until I came to work in a job where women where still not readily accepted. It happened in Germany, while working as a security officer for different large Army bases.

German men seemed to have a hard time accepting women in their workplace. As women, we knew about this as we often overheard converstations such as “I would never want her near me should a crisis occur” or “I do not trust women, especially when carrying a gun”. We mostly ignored such comments even though they sure somewhat bothered our self esteem.

It appears that women still suffer from equality issues in the workplace. This seems to be particulary true when dealing with jobs that once were thought strictly for men. Men still think that certain jobs should not allow women to enter the workforce. Others justify the presence of women in such workplaces only as a company’s effort to show that they are an equal opportunity employer.

More and more women are gaining access to jobs where once they were not even able to apply.
As women we have seen a big progress since we are accepted nowadays in the Army in specializations that once were impossible to join. We see women judges, we see women police officers, we see women construction workers, we see women pilots. However, there ae still areas were women are still treated like if they are less capable of succeeding than men.

When I experienced this first hand as a security officer, I tried my best to ignore the discriminating comments. I felt proud to be working as a security officer, and the fact that I was a woman and that I accomplished as other men, made me feel worthy.
Then once I qualified with the pistol at the shooting range and surpassed many average men’s scores, I noticed more respect from superiors and collegues, and I somehow felt I deserved that.

Women still seem to be under pressure in workplaces where women are still a minority, where jobs are dominated mostly by men. This was what I personally felt. I felt that I had to prove that I was able to get things accomplished and if needed, I could shoot as a man. I had to prove to collegues that should we be partners in case of a crisis, my male partner did not have to worry about my wellbeing. He did not have to feel like he should work double, first to defend himself and then to defend myself.
I was capable of taking care of myself and actually even help my partner.

Working as a security of officer, my self esteem increased. This was thanks to my extra effort and commitment in the job. However, I must admit that some women were still mistreated,
such as a girl that was made fun of because she was unable to shoot straight. Frustrated, she started to cry and left the job once and for all that day. I am sure she still feels the pain from that day. Should she have stayed she could have proved her commitment and perhaps even boosted her self esteem in an incomparable way.

I was not born a good shooter, but I did not give up at the first attempts. Rather, I practiced and practiced in my spare time, up to the point of qualifying in the first places along with men. I think that the best way to prove that women are not worth less is by fighting all the stereotyping and striving for excellence so to combat this discrimination once and for all.