NAHANT — Tara Driscoll is one of just two female firefighters who are part of Nahant’s Fire Department.
The 31-year-old joined the team last month after completing the state’s call/volunteer recruit training program, where she was, once again, one of only two women in her graduating class of 27.
Being a woman in any male-dominated industry is often difficult, but Driscoll said the physicality of fire fighting especially can present a unique set of challenges.
“(Just) body mechanics — guys are naturally stronger,” she said. “It is what it is.”
Rather than let this deter her, Driscoll — who said she’s always been athletic — welcomes the challenge. In addition to her day job of bartending at Kelly Greens Golf Course, she stays on top of her physical fitness by working out regularly.
“They definitely don’t (go easy on me),” she said of her firefighter training. “But if you’re struggling with something, I feel like they kind of notice it more because they’re already looking to make sure you’re ok because you’re a girl.
“It’s good, though, because you know they aren’t going to let you just fall through the cracks.”
She added that the teamwork involved in fire fighting means every person’s contribution is important, regardless of gender.
“A lot of my power is in my legs. I don’t lift something that’s heavy the same way that a guy with a lot of upper body strength would. I use a different technique to utilize the strength in my legs,” she said. “We’re always working as a team. It’s very rare that you have to lift stuff on your own.”
Firefighting has long been a male-dominated industry. According to the Chicago Tribune, as of 2018, only four percent of firefighters in the United States were female. Despite the fact the number of women pursuing police and military work — two traditionally male-dominated careers — has risen to roughly 14 percent, female firefighters remain exceptionally rare.
“In one of the last places in the workforce where a virtual male monopoly endures,” the article says, “it’s still possible (today) … for departments to hire their first female firefighters.”
Driscoll said she was drawn to the job because she wanted to help people, and she thinks departments are better equipped to do so when they employ a diverse range of personnel.
“You have all different people you’re responding to,” she said. “People are in the worst possible moments of their lives and calling for your help. It’s nice to have a little diversity in personality and perspective that everybody brings, male or female.”
She added she loves that fire fighting allows her to continuously grow and learn new things.
“You can never stop learning in a trade like this because there are so many different situations, you can never learn enough,” she said. “Everyone who’s been on the job 30-plus years says they learn something new every day. There’s always an opportunity to get better at your skills.”
At the end of the day, however, Driscoll said she’s always been welcomed with open arms by her fellow firefighters, who she described as being like a family.
“There hasn’t been a time when I’ve asked for help and someone hasn’t bent over backwards to help me,” she said. “I’m really grateful for that.”
Driscoll also emphasized that no matter the job, persistence is always key.
“Like anything in life, if you want something, you have to work hard at it. Whether you’re male or female, and no matter what the task or job is.”