Over the recent years, qualified women security agents have been shattering the gender stereotypes traditionally found in the executive protection industry. Agencies around the United States are also seeing an increase in demand for women agents in many sectors of the security industry and are even creating new avenues of security-related employment for these women. While progress has been made, the reality of being a female working in this male-dominated industry is still challenging on many levels. Let's get into a few of the obstacles women agents might face in the industry and how to potentially resolve these issues. 

Starting Out & Preconceived Notions

One of the most significant challenges for women interested in working in the executive protection field is getting their foot in the door in the first place. Why is this so? Women have been overlooked for positions in these fields for decades, even when they were more qualified for the job than their male counterparts. Many employers had, and some still have, a bias towards male candidates, assuming that men are better suited for the physical demands of the job than women. Luckily, the executive protection industry has expanded in such a way that we now understand the typical EP role is far less physically demanding than previously thought. Contrary to popular belief, the action scenes from a Jason Bourne or John Wick movie are rarely (if ever) recreated by EP agents in real life. 

In fact, the very best EP agents are the ones who protect their clients by preventing dangerous situations from ever occurring.  They can create a safe environment for their clients by having skills such as weapons proficiency, working well with others, being situationally aware, being effective communicators, having a proven track record of reliability, punctuality, being knowledgeable, and remaining professional. There are many other hard and soft skills necessary for success in this industry but the point is both men and women are capable of providing a safe environment for their clients because the job is more about preventing and avoiding dangerous situations. Armed and trained female agents are just as dangerous as  their armed and trained male colleagues. It doesn't take the strength of a bodybuilder to pull a trigger. 

That being said, some clients, especially female celebrities, sometimes do prefer a large-statured agent to accompany them throughout the day because the sheer size is intimidating and powerful. But remember celebrities desire and need to be "seen" in public to stay relevant. Nothing cries out, "There's someone famous around!!" like a 6'5 bulky bodyguard dressed in black. The people who see the bodyguard will be curious to find out who the celebrity is and then will be posting pictures and tagging the celebrity on social media. The public essentially helps market the celebrity for free on these social media platforms. The more a celebrity is "seen" the more relevant he/she can remain. 

In the past, a large bodyguard was the standard hire for celebrities and other famous individuals. The general public has become very accustomed to seeing big male bodyguards in Hollywood, in movies and on television so they still expect to see this particular build of bodyguard near anyone who has the money to afford a security detail. 

You Don't "Look" Like Security

The above description of a "stereotypical" bodyguard is one of the reasons women have hesitated to join the security industry. Most women do not have such a large body frame. The effects of being rejected based on size still linger in the minds of many women today. Women interested in the EP field might ask themselves, "How can I possibly be an asset in this industry when I do not possess the height and stature of the men EP agents around me? Will people take me seriously?"

 We enjoy answering these questions. 

Over the past decade, there has been a huge shift and expansion in who our clients are and what our clients want in regards to physical protection and security. Due to an escalation of social unrest, physical violence, and mass shootings in the United States, our clients now range from high-net-worth families who want to ensure their children are protected going to and from school to powerful CEOs on family vacations. People from many walks of life are now wanting to employ specialized security teams to ensure the safety of their family, friends, employees, and more. An overwhelming number of these clients request women because they do not stand out or draw attention. A lot of people believe not drawing attention to themselves will help prevent unwanted situations from occurring. This mentality has helped pave the way for women in the CPP industry. 

Adapting to Working with Female Security

Do people take female EP agents seriously? You bet they do. Women who are trained, confident, and armed are powerful and intimidating. That being said, when there is only one woman and 6 men on a detail, there can be an unbalanced dynamic in the group. The female might feel isolated or unsupported. It can also be challenging to navigate workplace dynamics and build relationships with colleagues who may not be used to working with women. Luckily, there are fewer and fewer men who hold the belief that women should not be in protector roles. In fact, working with all men in any job field these days is a rarity, so most men already have been forced to adapt. Unfortunately, there are still a few male stragglers who refuse to shift their opinions. They might feel shocked and confused as to how a woman is allowed on their team and even intimidated  by her. This perception can be frustrating and demotivating for women who have worked hard to develop their skills and expertise.

"Mean Girls"

Following up on this thought, albeit we are irritated it even needs to be a concern is that there are some women in security who have managed to make a name for themselves over the years who will attempt to discredit new women agents from entering the field for selfish and egotistical reasons. In our experience, we have found that these people seek to ruin the reputation of the new female agents by spreading lies about them to their colleagues, being ultra critical of them in front of others, and creating a slew of unnecessary drama and blaming it on "the new girl". Generally, all of these actions end up reflecting poorly on the agent who initiated them. 

We advise all female agents to be aware of the other agents around and to not engage with these types of agents unless necessary for the successful execution of the detail. We have found the only reason for this sort of behavior is because those women have deep-rooted insecurities where they feel they will be forgotten or their status in the industry will diminish due to the new women agents coming aboard. Remember this, there is ALWAYS room for more women in this industry. Bonding with fellow female agents in a professional manner in order for their details to run as smoothly as possible is highly recommended. 

Climbing the Ladder

Another benefit of women working in executive protection is the potential for career growth. Women who are able to break into the industry and prove themselves can rise through the ranks quickly, taking on leadership roles and earning higher salaries. In our experience, women rise much more quickly than their male counterparts because quality women agents are so hard to find. There are going to be men out there who do NOT like to hear a woman is working the same detail he spent years to attain in a matter of months, simply because she is female.

What men should understand is the Female Executive Protection Group has a big mission to accomplish. The mission has nothing to do with putting males down or making them feel inferior. However, if there is a woman qualified for a detail and they can get there quicker than a man can - so be it. It's not cheating the "system". It is what it is. It is a consequence of women being rejected from the industry for so long. 

Maintaining Personal Relationships: A Hard Truth

Women can find the EP industry puts a strain on their home life and relationships. Many details call for agents to be out of town for days, weeks, or months. The hours are generally long and being able to stay connected can be difficult. Even with all the modern technology in the world, nothing replaces physically being present with the ones you love. It is difficult for the family waiting for the female agent to return from a detail as well. Naturally, the people you live with  will miss you the most when you are gone. Any family or relationship issues will be magnified doing this type of work and agents need to have a serious discussion with those they care about before committing to an assignment. 

All agents should weigh the pros and cons of being in this field and decide if the EP lifestyle is a good fit for them. 

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a big problem that can happen anywhere, even on executive protection gigs. The job can be intense and long, and sometimes agents work really close to each other, which can make harassment more likely. We recommend always keeping your actions and conversations professional regardless of where you are or if you are "on the clock".  It's never okay, and everyone on the detail should try to create a safe and respectful workplace.

It's also important to know that you might face retaliation after reporting harassment. Your employer should have rules to stop that from happening, but it's still something to keep in mind. (Contract workers BEWARE.) Sometimes an employer will remove the female being harassed from an assignment instead of removing the man who harassed the woman in the first place. Basically, the woman loses money while the man makes money and gets away with sexual harassment. Women often have to ask themselves, "Is this harassment worth reporting?" It's a sad reality but it is reality. That is why keeping conversations short and direct can be very valuable tip for females working with male agents. It's almost like a mini EP detail women agents have to work for free to protect themselves from an uncomfortable work environment. In our opinion, we would rather be the female agent who doesn't talk much but does a great job, then the female who is super friendly and has to deal with men taking it the wrong way and sexual harassment occurring. 

Also, maintaining a reasonable distance from other agents if possible is recommended. Ideally, female agents should be able to be themselves, carry out a successful detail, and return home to their families without any harassment ocurring.