While more women than ever are entering male dominated fields – such as STEM careers, the skilled trades, and positions of power – the ensuing discrimination doesn’t always make it easy. How can we take on these challenges for ourselves, and create a better world for our daughters?
During World War II, women played a critical role in maintaining the American war effort. Women flooded the workforce, working in defense plants to construct weapons, ammunition, aircraft, and more; many women even served in the military, putting their lives on the line. Of course, this was during the early 1940s where the belief was widespread that a woman’s sole responsibility was to tend to the home and family. The influx of women in “men’s jobs” was quite the culture shock – leading to sexual harassment, low wages, and long work hours. This only lasted about as long as it was needed; following the war, employers pushed women back into the home so that men could reclaim the positions, and many women who served in uniform were shunned from their honors and benefits.
Does that sound familiar?
It does to me. It sounds awfully familiar when people chide me for lifting fifty pounds at work, lest it break my delicate frame; it sounds awfully familiar when people scoff at my intention to become an electrician, because, honey, that’s a man’s job. Despite the incredible progress that we have made for women’s equality in the past century, snide preconceptions regarding the capabilities of women continue to make it difficult for women to simply exist in many fields of work. I sometimes find this to be incredibly discouraging. It sounds exhausting to have to prove myself over and over again; what if I can’t keep up? Am I making a grand mistake?
“When I first started in a very male dominated field, I was harassed, talked down to, treated like I was incompetent,” says Katie Flaim, owner of interior design company J&M Iinteriors. “Obviously, at first this hurt; I considered switching careers even. After 6 years of this profession, I am no longer hurt by others’ assumptions because I realize my capabilities are endless and continue to grow my skill sets every day. There will always be people who assume things before they know better. It’s a great feeling to prove them wrong.”
Perhaps it doesn’t have to be exhausting. Or, rather, perhaps the gratification will far outweigh the exhaustion, and the pride will far outweigh the annoyance. Part of me enjoys being told by a customer that I cannot possibly carry out a bag of dog food for them, because I get the chance to shatter the assumptions they had of me based on the way that I look. No, there is not a man working, nor do I need one, it’s literally my job, it’s just dog food, thank you. Of course, not everyone is going to listen, and for every person who does respect you, it seems that there are five more who think you’re weak or incompetent. How, though, can we expect to progress as a society if we do not work to push those uncomfortable boundaries? How can we expect to ever find satisfaction, if we allow our life paths to be dictated by what others think we are capable of? It prompts me to think back to the rough memory of something my sister, a USIC technician, once told me: “It’ll be really hard, but in the end of it all, you’ll look around you and know that you own your life, that no one else created it for you.” The satisfaction of knowing that I am stronger than I look, that I did not let anyone take away the life that I want just because they belittled me or underestimated me or made me cry, strikes me as worth the effort and more. Spite, for me at least, nurtures motivation and discipline like nothing else.
Flaim offers another piece of advice: “Own what you know, and don’t let someone convince you that you know less than you do. Be humble to learning and listening, but don’t take unnecessary rudeness from others.” Of course, I don’t mean to say that one should never take advice where it is warranted, or admit that they are incorrect or need help – we all have growing to do. It is when people are unwilling to give you a chance to begin with, continuously undermine you, or feel you ought to be receptive to mistreatment because you cannot possibly defend yourself, that you get angry.
Sometimes, it’s easier said than done. There are times when it will be truly exhausting and terrifying, and giving up will be tempting. However, there are budding support groups and programs for women who are active or interested in male-dominated fields. For example, Women In Skilled Trades is a Michigan pursuing trade careers. STEMinista is an initiative by the Michigan Science Center to empower middle-school girls using mentorship, workshops, and presentations that introduce them to the world of STEM. You are only a Google search away from a plethora of online support groups and resources for women facing challenges in male-dominated fields. We are not alone, and we are stronger together.
The point to remember is that if you really love what you do, nobody can take that away from you. If women do not take it upon ourselves to push these boundaries, to assert ourselves as unwavering in the face of discrimination, the long overdue changes our society needs will not be made. pre-apprenticeship readiness program that works to provide experience and create opportunities for women.
