2008 Class of Female Firefighters

The first class of all Latina women in the FDNY.  Jennifer Quinones, Sophy Medina, Sarinya Olmo and Joy Flores’ admittance into the force was significant because it marked the first class of firefighters to be comprised entirely of Latina women.  Conversely, dwindling diversity- both in gender and race- in the FDNY continues to an issue.  In fact, the force has historically been, and still is, overwhelmingly white and male.   

Read about past efforts to enact policy for the gender diversification of blue-collar jobs in LaborArts’ exhibit On Equal Terms and read about ongoing political efforts with the same motivation in this article about the de Blasio administration.

See the rest of the pieces from this exhibit in LaborArts’ Women Firefighters in New York City.