What it's like for L.A.'s female firefighters episode artwork

EPISODE · Nov 4, 2021 · 24 MIN

What it's like for L.A.'s female firefighters

from Headlines From The Times · host Dakota Smith, Stacy Taylor, Lauren Raab, Melissa Kaplan, Mario Diaz, Denise Guerra, Gustavo Arellano, Shani Hilton, Shannon Lin

Less than 4% of Los Angeles’ firefighters are women — a number that, despite the mayor’s goals, has inched up only slightly in recent years. Many of the female firefighters say their ranks are so small because of a hostile, sexist culture pervading the Los Angeles Fire Department.Today, we talk about what women in the LAFD have been dealing with, including trash in their lockers, feces on bathroom floors and nasty remarks from co-workers they need to trust with their lives. We talk to L.A. Times City Hall reporter Dakota Smith, who has covered this hazing culture, and we also hear from Stacy Taylor, a retired battalion chief who pushed for better treatment during her 26 years in the department.More reading:Women say they endure ‘frat house’ culture at L.A. Fire Department. ‘The worst of my life’Female firefighters, civil rights advocates call for LAFD chief’s removalFirefighters sue over city of L.A.'s vaccine mandate

Less than 4% of L.A.'s firefighters are women. Many say their ranks are so small because of a hostile, sexist culture pervading the city's Fire Department.

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What it's like for L.A.'s female firefighters

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This episode is 24 minutes long.

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This episode was published on November 4, 2021.

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Less than 4% of Los Angeles’ firefighters are women — a number that, despite the mayor’s goals, has inched up only slightly in recent years. Many of the female firefighters say their ranks are so small because of a hostile, sexist culture pervading...

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