Do you think that even in today's 'equal opportunities' society, that it is still very hard for women to be seen as equal to men in certain professions?
Or do you think that in certain male dominated professions, said men find it 'uncomfortable' to have to work with women?
- well I'm certain they do, but why do you think this is?
Kristie
Dont go around saying the world owes you a living - the world owes you nothing, it was here first - Mark Twain
I think this is true for a relatively small proportion of jobs, which tends to be exaggerated for political purposes. It is almost certainly more difficult for a woman to become a top executive or board member of a major corporation, but then the average man has more or less no chance at such a position either. For the average grunt job that most people work in, there is no such gender gap.
hmmm
The reason i ask is that I, woman, want to be an electrician. This means a couple of years of retraining etc.
I've always wanted to do it, but i've always been put off. My dad always told me I'd never do it, I wouldn't cope with it, get loads of stick, physically it would be too demanding, and nobody would employ a woman.
Now I really am determined, but I know a lot more people tend to apply for the course than there are spaces.. I wonder if I'll get seconded for being a girl!
Kristie
Dont go around saying the world owes you a living - the world owes you nothing, it was here first - Mark Twain
Oh right, I didn't realise you were referring to manual work which certainly does tend to be dominated by men.
I guess the problem there is that the attitudes of your male colleagues may not necessarily be all that "enlightened" with regards to gender equality. I don't see why you shouldn't be able to get into the profession, but you might have to tolerate a certain amount of "stick" in the process (depending on the particular firm you work for).
Do it! Electricity is awesome - in fact only the other day I bought a circuit set from the Science Museum because I love playing around with wiring.
People would employ a female electrician, yes. But, if you plan to become a domestic electrician, you could go eventually into business yourself. Firstly, there is a skill shortage already so good electricians are in demand, and secondly, A LOT of single women, widows, old ladies, etc would jump at the chance of having a female electrician.
I worked for a construction company for a while, they had a few women electricians on site. Man's world, phoeey. It'll only change when pioneers like yourself break the mould.
I don't think many people care about gender. If I need an electrician, I'll phone up a number in the book and ask for one, I won't even know if they're male or female until they arrive. I think that the main reason occupations like this are still male dominated is because people think that it is harder for women to get in, so they are less likely to try. If anything it should be easier for women to get in, since it looks good for companies to be a equal as possible. As Araneus says, you are likely to get a bit of stick from colleagues, but I wouldn't think it would be anything more than just friendly joking.
Better sorry than safe.
Well duh. If you phone an electrician, you are pretty much guaranteed to get a male one.Originally Posted by Cuddles
However, if you publicise the fact that you are a female electrician, you will fill a gap in the market. I know lots of single women who dislike having strangers in their home and would jump at the chance of a 'safer' option. It's a tactic that works very well for taxi companies, too.
Unfortunately stereotyping is something we all do without thinking.
I say gingego for it. Being female will have no bearing on your ability as an electrician, but just be aware that men in male-dominated professions don't usually know how to react to a woman doing their job.
.
My sister's a qualified electrician... although she never used her qualification towards employment. She wanted to be able to save money by re-wiring her own house, which she did. (I also think she wanted to prove a point, but that's just her).
She got a fair bit of stick from the guys on the course (about 15 years ago,) but managed to hold her own and gained some respeck from them in the end.
I once went for an informal interview with some prospective clients, one of whom happened to be a relative. (I'm a freelance illustrator) They were keen to hire me for a long term contract because they liked my work. However, the first question put to me by the other guy was ' can you assure me that you will not get pregnant in the next two years?'
I said - 'of course I can't!'
He said ' Sorry. You're not what we're looking for'.
End of interview.
:P
"I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while".<br /><br />Charles Fort
Depending on the circumstances, asking such a question could be a breach of discrimination law.
I am not sure how it applies in the situation of private clients rather than a workplace, however.
I was going to say, isn't that illegal!Depending on the circumstances, asking such a question could be a breach of discrimination law.
I am not sure how it applies in the situation of private clients rather than a workplace, however.
IF there are more people applying for the course than there are places available, I wonder if I won't get chosen for being a woman - OR if I will get chosen because it makes their equal opportunities figures look good.
either way I won't be deterred. I've wanted to do this for 10 years but have been put off by various people. My dad and stepmum actually had a go at me, and told me not to be so stupid! don't know why I even told them now, you'd think I was 16 and caught smoking or something from their reactionI've missed out on a lot of things because I've taken too much notice of people telling me I can't do this or that. nowadays I try to keep away from those kinds of people.
Kristie
Dont go around saying the world owes you a living - the world owes you nothing, it was here first - Mark Twain
You will never know what may or may not influence somebody's decision, and once the decision is made you will have no idea what the real reason was. The most important thing is not to make assumptions ("they only rejected me because I am black/a woman/gay/etc") and move on.
At a drinks party the other night (why do I start so many paragraphs with that phrase?) I was talking to a woman who did her degree in linguistics, who used to be a City trader, who gave it up because it was unsatisfying, who has a badly handicapped child, and who is planning to go back to work by apprenticing as an electrician. I told her to drop me a business card when she qualified, and she gave me the details of the electrician she uses, also a woman. (I especially like having women tradespeople because being alone or with children in the house with a strange man can be unnerving.) I traded her the business card of the woman who does our painting and wallpapering.
As an Equality and Diversity advisor, I see issues at work where women politics lecturers are told by middle-aged men that they have no business in the field, and I've talked to women who have actually believed it. People can talk all sorts of bollocks. Don't believe a word of it.
You wanna be an electrician? You be an electrician. And if you work in the Surrey/Hampshire borders, drop me a business card.
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