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 White House Fellow.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Berkman Retires from FDNY". International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. 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. 1 2 "Brenda Berkman, Former New York City Fire Department Captain, Talks Women At Ground Zero". Huffington Post. September 7, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "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. Archived from the original on September 14, 2012. 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. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
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