Brenda Berkman

Brenda Berkman (born 1951[1]) is a pioneering female firefighter. She filed the lawsuit that resulted in the first women being hired by the New York City Fire Department in 1982.[2] In 1977 the FDNY used a physical test that all the women applying to be firefighters failed, including Berkman; she sued on the grounds of gender discrimination and won, and a new test was created in which standards were changed so the test was job-related. Berkman and 40 other women passed the new job-related test.[3] (See Brenda Berkman, et al. v. The City of New York, CV-79-1813, 536 F. Supp. 177 (E.D.N.Y. 1982), aff’d Berkman v. City of New York, 705 F.2d 584 (2d Cir. 1983.)) She joined the FDNY in 1982.[4][5] The struggle of women to join the FDNY, and Berkman's part in it, was featured in a 2006 PBS documentary called Taking The Heat. [5] Berkman was the founder of the United Women Firefighters, an organization for women in the FDNY, and was its president from 1982 until 1986.[1][6] Her awards include: the Susan B. Anthony Award from the National Organization for Women (1984), a Revson Fellowship on the Future of the City of New York, from Columbia University (1987-1988), the Distinguished Alumni Award from St. Olaf College, and the Women of Courage Award from the National Organization for Women (2002).[6]

Berkman responded to the World Trade Center attacks, and in 2012 a self-portrait she created was exhibited at the 9/11 Decade Exhibit at the Westbeth Sculpture Gallery Annex.[7] Her experience was also featured in the book Women at Ground Zero: stories of courage and compassion.[8]

She retired in 2006 at the rank of Captain.[2]

She is openly lesbian, and was the first openly gay person to be a professional firefighter and a White House Fellow.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 see also , "Guide to the United Women Firefighters Records WAG.057". Tamiment Library / Wagner Archives Voices of Feminism Oral history Project-Smith College 3-12-2012 www.smith.edu. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Berkman Retires from FDNY". International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  3. "Taking the Heat: The First Women Firefighters of New York City". PBS. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  4. "A 'Band of Sisters' Who Fight Fires, and Try to Break Through Barriers". Voice of America. August 21, 2005. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Brenda Berkman, Former New York City Fire Department Captain, Talks Women At Ground Zero". Huffington Post. September 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Sisters in the Brotherhoods - Brenda Berkman". Talkinghistory.org. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  7. Clark, Roger (August 18, 2011). "Artists Bring 9/11 Inspired Works To West Village". NY1.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  8. Susan Hagen (2002). Women at Ground Zero: Stories of Courage and Compassion. Alpha. ISBN 978-0028644226.
  9. Murray, Christopher (June 22–28, 2006). "Fighting More Than Fires". Gay City News. Retrieved May 20, 2012.