5 Reasons Why Clients Sometimes Prefer Female Executive Protection Officers

Posted by Lesley Haverford on September 8th, 2023

For most people, the first thing that comes to mind when talking about executive protection is the image of big, bulky men whose presence alone is enough to deter potential attackers. And we can’t blame them – the executive protection industry is, after all, a male-dominated one.

That said, there’s been a rise in the number of women choosing to work in this mainly masculine field, and there are many advantages to this as well. In fact, female security agents are a more preferable choice in a variety of cases, and the demand for them has grown significantly over the recent years. In this article, we’ll be looking at five reasons why clients sometimes prefer female executive protection officers and the advantages female agents have over their male counterparts.

Staying under the radar while mitigating risks

When business executives are being escorted by male bodyguards, it’s only natural to assume that they are there to offer protection and ward off any would-be attackers. This is typically due to their threatening appearance, tall posture, and intimidating physique. These make it particularly difficult for people to not notice them.

On the other hand, when an important individual is accompanied by a female, it can be hard for an average person to tell who that female is. Is it a babysitter? A nanny? A personal assistant? Or maybe it’s just a family member or friend? This is precisely what makes female agents a great option if you want to stay under the radar while staying protected and avoiding risks at all times.

A tactful approach to resolving conflicts 

Another great thing about hiring female executive protection officers is their ability to assess and approach a situation at hand in a rational, calm manner. Rather than relying on brute strength and force to intimidate a potential attacker - all the while making it quite obvious that there’s a celebrity nearby - female agents are there to assess risks while remaining hidden in plain sight.

They are tactful about their approach and are able to defuse a potentially threatening situation by relying on diplomacy. Their ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts enables them to safeguard their clients while preventing the situation at hand from escalating.

A better choice for certain cultural/religious reasons

Whether it’s their calm approach to de-escalating situations or their use of intuition during risk assessment, female agents do offer some significant advantages over males. However, these aren’t the only reasons clients may want to hire female agents.

According to the reputable Global Security company, female executive protection officers are sometimes simply chosen due to cultural or religious reasons. Let’s say that the client’s family comes from an environment where certain things are frowned upon. For instance, their religion states that female members of the family should not spend time with males who are not their family members. In that case, a female executive protection agent is a logical choice. Of course, there are other instances in which females are a more preferable option. This is especially true if a client has small children that require close protection and care. In that case, female agents are preferred.

Accessibility along with the ability to blend and fit in seamlessly

As an executive protection officer, it’s your task to do everything that you need to do to make sure the daily life of your client goes on sans any disruptions. However, this can sometimes be difficult to do when you can not access certain places. This is particularly true in cases where female clients are working with male agents. From dressing rooms and bathrooms to hotel suites and women's clothing shops, some places are simply off limits to males. This is why having a female executive protection officer with you can be quite handy.

Women who work in the security field don’t have some of the restrictions their male counterparts have. This means that they can offer protection to their clients at all times without any disruptions. What’s more, when female and male executives work together, it’s easy for them to pass for a couple, thus ensuring low-profile protection against a potential attacker.

The ease of disguising and carrying EP-related items

In addition to not being as noticeable as their male counterparts, female agents are also more practical when it comes to traveling around while carrying executive protection gear. Thanks to their “go-bags” that they tend to carry around wherever they go, women tend to have everything that they might need on hand and are easily accessible.

What this means for female protection officers is that they can easily disguise EP-related items such as pocket knives, GPS equipment, first aid kit, and so forth while appearing to be carrying simple everyday necessities.

Carving a path in a male-dominated industry

As a woman, working in a male-dominted industry can seem daunting. However, this does have its own advantages. While a female agent may not serve as a visual deterrent like her male counterparts do, a woman’s unique perspective, intuition, and careful approach to assessing risks make her the ideal choice for a range of different situations.