Research by Craig and Jacobs (1985) indicated that male firefighters were less tolerant of any special treatment toward female firefighters as their years of service increased. Studies reviewing traditional male careers such as firefighters, police officers, and the military suggest that pressures exist for female firefighters to be accepted by their peers. Hollerbach et al. (2017) revealed through their study analyzing female firefighters’ perceptions, attitudes, and experiences with injury, that many participants felt a constant need to “prove” themselves to their male counterparts. This mindset led to injury because these females tried to take on an increased workload, more than their bodies could handle. The female firefighters in this study also noted that they avoided asking their male workers for helpl, in fear that they might seem not “cut out” for the job. There are additional demands for women to work more rigorously than men to be successful. According to Maru (2017), successful leadership in the fire service involves balancing both productivity and human requirements. The main research question in this study involves whether males and/or females scored higher in task versus relationship behaviors. The survey also asks firefighters whether they believed that they were overexerting.
