Why age-old stereotypes of heroic firemen should be a thing of the past to break the gender divide - the YEP says

There are many leading ladies across the region in prominent positions but today latest figures show that women make up less than six per cent of frontline firefighters here in West Yorkshire.

This stark figure raises the question of gender and diversity of workforces across the spectrum.

As with many industries it begs the question of why is the gender divide so very blunt?

Yet the only way to get a grip of this is to change the narrative around age-old stereotypes.

For many the image of being rescued by a firefighter is having a man bursting through a door carrying their victim over their shoulder.

What should matter is that when 999 is called help arrives with a speedy response regardless of the gender of the fire crew behind the helmet.

The heroics speak for themselves - the fact that someone would choose to put their life on the line and run into a burning building when everyone else is running away says it all.

Gender shouldn’t matter at all.