{"id":3069,"date":"2020-02-16T12:07:14","date_gmt":"2020-02-16T08:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/104.152.168.11\/~globalwomens\/?p=3069"},"modified":"2020-03-11T11:19:56","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T07:19:56","slug":"trailblazing-firefighter-brenda-berkman-shares-her-game-changing-journey-at-global-womens-forum-dubai-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalwomensforumdubai.com\/2020\/media-centre\/trailblazing-firefighter-brenda-berkman-shares-her-game-changing-journey-at-global-womens-forum-dubai-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Trailblazing firefighter Brenda Berkman shares her game-changing journey at Global Women\u2019s Forum Dubai 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Retired Captain, Brenda Berkman, shared her inspiring journey as a pioneering firefighter in the USA during the Forum\u2019s second \u2018Game-Changer\u2019 session<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em>Berkman emphasised the importance of moral courage and supporting others to achieve their dreams<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Captain Brenda Berkman: <\/strong><em>\u201cDon\u2019t close the door behind you after you\u2019ve walked through it \u2013 helping others to achieve their dreams is truly heroic.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dubai, UAE, 16 February 2020<\/strong>: Leading the second \u2018Game-Changer\u2019 session at the Global Women\u2019s Forum Dubai 2020, Captain Brenda Berkman shared her trailblazing journey to become one of the first female firefighters in the city of New York against all odds. Through her inspirational session, she underscored the importance of championing social change for the greater good of generations to come, citing that \u201cchangemaking is a marathon, not a sprint.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berkman was a third-year law student in 1978, when, for the first time, the New York City Fire Department allowed women to apply. After failing the physical fitness component of the exam alongside 89 other women, Berkman set out to challenge the state of New York, with a firm belief that the gruelling physical exam was discriminatorily designed to keep women from joining the department, rather than accurately assess the skills needed for the job.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was the only person who stepped out from the crowd to challenge that unfair test\u201d said <strong>Captain Brenda Berkman<\/strong>, <strong>retired female firefighter<\/strong>. \u201cWhen I won the lawsuit, I experienced a lot of harassment, not only from some of my male firefighter co-workers but also from the media, from politicians, members of my own labour union and even the public.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berkman explained that the struggles did not stop there \u2013 alongside some 40 women who graduated to become the city\u2019s first female firefighters in 1982, she was forced to endure relentless discrimination at every turn ranging from a lack of on-the-job support, social exclusion, as well as physical and verbal abuse.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy didn\u2019t I quit?\u201d posed Berkman. \u201cBecause I discovered that while going into burning buildings requires courage \u2013 what required me to be really courageous was just refusing to quit a job that I loved and that I found out I could be good at.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berkman underscored that all the abuse she faced was baseless &#8211; built solely on stereotypes and fear of change. She highlighted the importance of persevering to secure more opportunities for women.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Berkman stressed the importance of supporting others to succeed across all industries. \u201cDon\u2019t close the door behind you after you\u2019ve walked through it \u2013 helping others to achieve their dreams is truly heroic\u201d she said. She closed the session by encouraging others to be brave, and not to forget the struggles of those who paved the way for the achievements of others.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u2018Game-Changer\u2019 sessions, introduced for the first time at Global Women\u2019s Forum Dubai 2020, showcase inspiring personal stories from women who have made great strides across various industries, providing insight into their journeys to success. The sessions highlight pioneering women\u2019s diverse experiences \u2013 including the lessons learnt and obstacles overcome \u2013 as they delve into topics ranging across philanthropy, international relations, male-dominated industries, business, and more.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Global Women\u2019s Forum Dubai 2020 is organised by Dubai Women Establishment, which is led by <strong>Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum<\/strong>, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council and wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.<br>Building on its theme, <strong><em>\u2018The Power of Influence\u2019<\/em><\/strong>, Global Women\u2019s Forum Dubai 2020 will highlight how effective policies and partnerships in four key areas \u2013 <strong>Government<\/strong>, <strong>Economy, Society, and the Future<\/strong> \u2013 can further women\u2019s positive impact for a better future.\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Retired Captain, Brenda Berkman, shared her inspiring journey as a pioneering firefighter in the USA during the Forum\u2019s second \u2018Game-Changer\u2019 session Berkman emphasised the importance of moral courage and supporting others to achieve their dreams Captain Brenda Berkman: \u201cDon\u2019t close the door behind you after you\u2019ve walked through it \u2013 helping others to achieve their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":3806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media-centre","category-media-centre-mobile"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - 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