M
aria Silva has spent over two decades as a "doorwoman" in New York City, a position that's extremely rare for women. In fact, they make up just 3% of doormen in the city, compared to 6% of female taxi drivers and 13% of MTA employees.

    Silva doesn't mind being one of the few women in this male-dominated field. She worked as a security guard before becoming a concierge and has been at her current building for nine years. As the only female employee out of 10, she knows each resident by name, including their friends, family members, and pets.

    "I know everyone," Silva said. "Their friends, their parents, cousins, everything. Dogs, too." She joked that sometimes she feels more like a therapist or bartender than a doorman due to the close relationships she's formed with residents.

    Silva has received two wedding invitations this year alone and is often the first to learn about pregnancies in her building. She takes pride in being a part of these special moments and says it makes her job feel like home.

    However, getting hired as a doorman can be tough for women. Silva said she's been asked about her ability to show up on time as a mother and whether she'd take extra sick days as a grandmother during the hiring process. She believes this is one reason why men are preferred over women in this field.

    Yaphia Pabon, another female doorman, agrees that being a woman makes her an even better fit for the job. She's worked on the Upper East Side for eight years and has formed close bonds with her residents, often helping them get ready for nights out or zipping up their dresses.

    Pabon said she's occasionally relied upon by her female residents to help with tasks beyond just being a doorman. She also serves as her building's porter some days, which involves heavy lifting and hauling garbage outside.

    The New York City doorman profession is an institution in the city, but it's evolved over time. Ancient Roman doormen inspired Ovid poems, while modern-day doormen now navigate Amazon packages and other challenges.

    Sharon Noel Lake, a mother of two who immigrated from Trinidad, has been working as a concierge for 20 years. She's one of the few women in her ultra-luxury condo building on Billionaires' Row and takes pride in being a gatekeeper while also treating residents' homes with discretion.

    Lake said she wears multiple hats on any given day, including runner, greeter, or doorman. She's also her building's shop steward for 32BJ SEIU, which represents workers in the building services industry across several states.

    The three women – Silva, Pabon, and Lake – all agree that women in this line of work have to look out for themselves and earn respect from their colleagues. They've developed thick skin and learned to navigate challenges like being singled out for critique or poked fun at by male colleagues.

    Despite the difficulties, they say the relationships they form with residents make up for it all. Silva said her favorite shift is 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., when she gets to see kids come home from school and receive wedding invitations and birthday cake.