Joining the fight

I sometimes read some of the feminist blogs, and admire these women for the way they speak and write on women’s issues.  I read up on the history of women’s struggles for equality, and I am grateful for the strong women who fought for our rights.

After reading these inspiring stories, I tend to feel that I should be doing more. More writing, more protesting, more something.

Instead, I tend to avoid confrontation, living my life quietly doing what I do, without making waves.

I go to work, take care of my family, try to fit in some exercise, try to eat right. That’s about it.

I don’t belong to any women’s groups, not even one of the women in trades groups.

Should I be active, giving voice to the inequalities I see, find a cause to fight for?  Or should I be content living my life and striving to make it better for me? After all, I’m a busy person with a full-time job and a family.

I know that if the women before me had not fought, there’s a possibility I wouldn’t have the right to vote, or to own property, or go to university.

Should I be out there, helping others, speaking up against things I perceive as wrong? Or is living my life as the best person I know how to be enough?

Maybe when the kids grow up, I will start protesting and go to university. After all, all kinds of things are possible.

How much space do you take up?

I was standing at work the other day talking with some co-workers, and for some reason I was thinking of my posture.  This actually happens often, as I know that women and men talk and move differently, and I am usually conscious of trying to appear not too feminine or too masculine. Taking on too many masculine traits can put people off, yet being too feminine and soft seems to make people not take you as seriously. There’s a fine line there that I find challenging to stay on.

I was reading this post  last night, about the space women take up. It caused me to think more on the images women and men try to create, and how it affects how we are perceived.

Thinking back to my stance at work, I have noticed that I tend to stand with my arms crossed in front of me.  The men don’t stand like this often, so when I think of it I uncross my arms.  Then I don’t know what to do with my hands, so usually I put them in my coverall pockets and remind myself to stand up straight.

The article linked to above mentions the fact that girls and women are trained to take up less space and be smaller than men. It makes the point that being bigger and more muscular gives men more space, strength and power.

How we are perceived by others directly affects us. At work we want others to know we are competent and capable, strong enough to do the work required of us. We need our body language to reflect this.

I don’t stand around talking a lot at my work, usually I’m busy doing something that keeps my hands and mind busy. If I had a different job that involved more talking and meetings this would likely be even more of an issue to think about.

Related posts:  How do others see you?

Why don't more women enter the trades?

Why don’t more women enter the trades?  The percentage of women in my occupation  is 2%.  Other trades have a higher percentage of women, but they are still quite low.

When I was in trade school, I was told that getting an apprenticeship would be pretty much impossible.  Companies just don’t want to hire women to do their mechanical work, they said.  I was told there were no women millwrights (not true, I know there were others).  Even though I did not receive much support from my instructors, I still stuck with it – stubborn being that I am.

There are programs now that encourage women to enter non-traditional work.  There are more women working in industry. 

So why do so few of us consider working a trade?

I can think of a few reasons:

Fear of not getting a job

Fear of not being accepted

Fear of being harassed

Fear of not being able to do the work

Fear of not being strong enough

Fear of being labeled a feminist or a lesbian

Fear of ridicule

A strong dislike of getting dirty

Family, friends, or boyfriend/husband objecting 

Getting dirty is bound to happen in jobs like these, so that is a valid concern.

People discouraging us from our desires is unfortunately a common thing, and one that we can have a hard time overcoming. We have to decide who makes our decisions for us.

The rest of the reasons I came up with are all to do with fear of something unpleasant happening.

A common saying is: don’t let fear and good sense hold you back. It is meant as a joke.

When people let fear control their lives, they fail to accomplish things. Worse, they fail to even attempt them.

I decided to go after what I wanted when I entered trade school, and if I didn't get an apprenticeship, then I would be in the same place as I was before. Not the end of the world.

What other reasons are there that prevent women from considering the trades?

What are the requirements for your job?

There are very few jobs that actually require a penis or vagina. All other jobs should be open to everybody.

~Florynce Kennedy

Florynce Kennedy was a remarkable woman.  She was a civil rights advocate and a feminist. She was flamboyant, and did not hesitate to speak her mind.

I love this quote. I’m thinking it would be cool to put this on a business card, to hand to people who  who say they don't believe me when told what I do for a living.

Why didn't I think of this?

I have rather large hands and feet for a woman.  Not really large, but not dainty either. It is a good thing, actually.  My hands are strong and can grip things readily.  My feet easily fit into men’s shoes and socks.

I came across this article about a woman who couldn’t find work boots in colours she wanted. She obviously is an enterprising sort and has gone into the boot business.

Rosies workwear is another company selling coveralls for women. I haven’t tried either of these companies’ products.

When I started in the trades there were no work boots and coveralls for women, not in the stores I shopped at. There was also no internet either.

I was lucky that the men’s boots fit me comfortably and I could always find my size. The coveralls were a different story, and they have always fitted me awkwardly.

I never considered the possibility of going into business in his obviously untapped market of women’s workwear.  I would not have known how even if I had thought of it.

The market for these type of items is growing as more women work in industry. The work wear stores routinely carry women's steel-toed footwear now.

I still wear men’s work boots though, they fit me better.