Historically, the skilled trades have been a male-dominated field. According to Rosendale Technical College, only 3% of skilled trades professionals are women. However, with the support of many strong young women, many teenage girls today are working hard to shape the successful women of tomorrow.
Even though these girls are striving towards equality in the trades, and working hard to close the equality gaps everyday, it can still be difficult to be the only woman in a room full of men.
“Being in the trades as a woman can cause some awkwardness when trying to connect to others in the field because they may think that they know better,” junior Rylee Sites said.
Even though these girls are able to be successful in their fields, it is significantly harder to find a voice when they are the minority trying to end a centuries-long fight.
One of the most difficult aspects of being a woman in the trades seems to be “the feeling of messing up and getting pushed around because I am a girl. I have to prove myself,” junior Ellie Friedman said.
In a profession where men are widely accepted as professionals, these girls are fighting hard to prove themselves. However, within this constant struggle, there are benefits.
“You gotta think outside of the box and know that you are gonna get more leverage in certain things or use more of your weight,” professional ironworker Kaitlyn Leep said.
While women may have to work differently, their innovation and different ways of thinking all work towards a better tomorrow.
However, not all aspects of being a woman in a male-dominated field are negative. It is widely agreed upon that there should be more gender diversity in the field, many women also speak on the strength of their relationships with their male counterparts.
“I think that having a more balanced male to female ratio would be highly beneficial. Overall, my experience has been better than I could’ve imagined. All the guys are super friendly and helpful, and they’re like brothers or uncles now,” bricklayer Vanessa Hekkel said.
Although the trades is a man-dominated field, and most definitely seems as though it could use some diversification, the relationships and love shared between all trades people is unparalleled.
“My favorite part of the trades is my family. The family I made,” painter Clara Muhammad said.
Overall, these women are working their hardest to pave the way for a more diverse, modern, and equal community within the skilled trades. While it may seem a slow process, the hard work and dedication shown by these women time and time again truly is a push for the equality we all crave in the future. While shaping wood and steel with their hands, these women are also shaping the world of tomorrow.
