Emotional Education in High-Risk Professions: The Case of Women Firefighters from a Gender Perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency response professions involve high levels of physical, emotional, and psychological demands. In the firefighting field, training processes have traditionally prioritized technical competencies, relegating emotional well-being, particularly among women leaders operating within historically masculinized organizational structures. This situation highlights the need for comprehensive training approaches grounded in psychological well-being, female leadership, and non-formal education. Objective: To analyze the contribution of the II International Forum of Women Firefighters 2025 as a non-formal educational experience aimed at strengthening emotional well-being and female leadership in emergency contexts. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a qualitative, descriptive–interpretive approach through a case study design. Data collection techniques included participant observation, field notes, documentary analysis, and the collection of testimonies in collective dialogue spaces, especially during the talking circle held as part of the experiential bonfire activity. The sample consisted of more than 200 women firefighters from Ecuador and international delegations. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal a redefinition of emotional well-being as both an operational competence and a strategic axis of institutional management, as well as the strengthening of empathetic, collaborative, and care-oriented female leadership styles. These results engage with the literature on leadership and emotional health in high-risk professions, confirming the relevance of non-formal education as an effective training strategy. Conclusions: The forum constitutes a significant and replicable educational experience that contributes to strengthening psychological well-being, female leadership, and more humane and resilient institutional cultures in emergency contexts.