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My husband and I have remodeling business in East Tenn. Granted I am not as physically strong as my husband, nor do I know as much about building, etc. as he does (I didnt have a four year school like he did), but I do ok. It is interesting, especially in the area we live, to note the responses from people when they understand that we are a husband and wife team who actually work together. And after they realize they there are only the two of us and that we dont have a ‘crew’ they look at me with the classic “and she’s a girl” look. Don’t get me wrong there aren’t many people who give this look, most think that it’s really great that we work together and that I don’t mind hard work and getting dirty. So, just wondering if there are any other women in my postion and also what you other guys think about hammerchicks?
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More power to ya' ......keep at it, if you love what you do- thats what its all about. Don't let the naysayers and buttheads give you a chip on your shoulder. During World War II, women built aircraft, ships ... you name it, women built it. Good work speaks for itself.
*Hello HammerChick, Be very proud of what you do. Not many women WANT to get in the thick of things, and even fewer want to work all day with their husbands. My wife has been my helper for about 4 years now, and if I tried I couldn't find a better, more knowledgeable helper. She learns as much as she can, is always there for me, and never complains. I spend all day with her, then come home at night and spend all evening with her. You would think that we'd be at each other's throats in a few days, but it just hasn't happened so far. The fact that you and your husband work together says a lot about your personal relationship. I salute you! I have found that women make better helpers, carpenters, and mechanics than a lot of men. They have the patience of Job, are mild mannered and calm (well, most are anyway), and seem to hunger for knowledge and wisdom of the trades. Years ago I had a mechanic shop and the best mechanic I had was a woman. She was about 5' 2" tall, very thin, and had an immense amount of patience. She had small hands that allowed her to get into tight places, and she didn't mind getting dirty. At the shop's peak of business, she was making about $50,000.00 a year. That ain't bad for a mechanic, and especially for a female mechanic. She earned every penny too! I applaud you and all the women of the trades who really love their profession, and who want to make a difference. HATS OFF!James DuHamel
*I'd just like to know, while you're out there workin' like a man, who the heck is home doin' all the women's work...like splittin' firewood and changin' the oil and anti freeze and patchin' the roof...stuff like that? I'm all for equal opportunity, but there are certain ROLES that have to be filled too you know. ...and who takes out the garbage...and puts the new handle in the maul...and...
*Hey Hammerchick, WhereYaAt? i You sayEast Tennessee,but have you ever taken a raft ride down the Ocoee??? Eaten Krystal burgers by the dozen? Visited Lake Winnepesokee and ridden the lame "haunted manor" ride? Kudos for your toolbelt (got a wife with one too, though she don't take orders well), but you ain't proved to me you're i east tennessee,yet. Riverbend festival doesn't count (though I'll forgive you if you've read i anyCormac McCarthy i.e.--i Suttree, (based in Knoxville) ori Child Of God,(based around old-old Gatlinsburg).Chattanooga Clay Clay
*The construction industry is full of dinosaurs and knuckle dragging Neanderthals so it's always interesting to meet a woman who is making her way amongst the brethren. More power to you. I find that women are generally more focused about almost anything they do in life. They have greater patience and generally engage in less posturing than their male counterparts. If you do good work and treat people fairly word will get around and you'll be sought after. Good luck. Marshall Winn
*I love that "hammerchicks" name. Do you use that as a nickname ?
*Hey Ron, she's married. :)Sounds great HC that you're getting to do what you want to do. As a guy, I have occasionally found women working where I didn't expect, mistaking them for support or some other job. My reaction? I felt like SUCH a moron for just assuming without even thinking about it. So some of the weird looks may not be disapproval but surprise at the sudden dousing in cold water!It used to be said you really wanted a Jewish doctor. Why? Because you know they went through such hell to get where they were that they must really know their stuff.
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women in the trades are a pleasant surprise. best of luck to ya.
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Women in the trades are great but not exactly all that suprising. If you want to find lots of women in the trades, go to a theater. Carpenters, painters, electricians, designers, you name it, they've been there for years. The scene shop I run employs 6 men and 5 women and of the 140+ students in the stagecraft class I teach about 60% are women. Ignore the looks and enjoy your work.
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HC,
Don't pay any attention to crazy legs and clayB. They're both happily married, and we have it on good authority just WHO runs their households....
Good for you working at what you love. The knuckledraggers are annoying, I know, but a raised eyebrow and a smile of amused contempt will go a long way. And if it is a supplier, well, casually mention how much business (in $) he is about to lose, and walk out the door.
These guys/gals are a great bunch, come on over to the tavern and we'll buy you a beer.
Lisa
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Quite alot of favorable responses here. I could add my two cents, but I won't. Instead, I'll point out that it seems to me that you are helping to perpetuate the stereotype: "Hammerchick"? I say drop the gender thing and make it more neutral--something like "Vaughnanator" Arrgh!
*Hammer Chick, I am also from ET (go Vols!) and the concrete finishers that I have used for years are a husband and wife team. She is a quite attractive woman and her husband is quite ugly! They do excellent work and she works harder than her husband. She doesnt roll the wheelborrows of concrete, but does just about everything else. She is always welcome at our job sites and the quality of her work is top notch!
*She must be "Mud Chick"!
*Way to go hammerchick. I was on a job once framing a condo project, we had a couple of female framers on the crew. It was in the middle of the summer real hot. WE just loved it when it got real hot and everybody went shirtless. True story!
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I finished a house last year with a woman who was a cabinetmaker. She worked her ass off, did good work and was a hell of a lot of fun to be around. I'd like to hire her but she wants to move back out west. Anyway, the sad thing was she got paid less than other people on that job, and got less interesting work (owner-builder had less confidence in her ability, and it cost him BIGTIME in some personnel problems).
She deserved better treatment but pretty much just worked and didn't complain much.
So everyone, I vote unequivocally for throwing the gender issue out the window. It's up to the individual, and we all know how big of jerks/morons/incompetent fools a lot of so-called "accomplished" men can be. We all have our own short lives to live; I say do what you want, and try to push yourself to be the best you can at whatever you do-the hell with what others think if they don't like it.
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Mad Dog, despite his moniker, has it right. A look at the roll of CEOs or a visit to a commercial construction site, or a look around at the dads who are home taking care of the kids while the wife is earning the living will reinforce that the gender bias thing is a mere shadow of its' former self.
Of course there will always be those(male and female) who will discriminate against "them". But lets not waste energy that could better be used appreciating people for what they can do and as individuals.
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Hey thar, Claybee
Just cuz I aint been eatin no Krystal hamburgers, and don't live in no trailer, don't mean I aint from East Tenn. I don't use no double negatives neither there buddy. If I had to guess, I bet you like Budwiser, and that would be Gatlinburg, with no 's'. That good enuf fer ya'.
hammerchick
*Richthanks for not posting your two cents worth, take a tip...lighten up.
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Equal pay for equal work seems like a no brainer. Not always the way it works out. I'm just as happy to see a woman on the job as to be working for one. God in his infinite wisdom has also chosen to throw down a few knuckledraggers and buttheads who were females leading me to believe he is not gender specific so who am I to be?
*As I've noted before my wife and I work together. She is great and I love her dearly. She has occasionally run into a dinosaur or 2 with semi-extinct attitudes. I still remember telling her we needed to get someone else to help me pack 8'6" long 5/8 rock up 3 floors of stairs. If I could do with my 200 lbs what she does with her 130 I'd be one tougher hombre. Joe
*HeyThereHammerchick,No O-fense on the dubble negatives, jus' tryin to afflect a suthrin' voice on this here board. We suth-e-ners gotta represent an' all. (plus I lived there till I was fifteen and miss it a whole bunch, just got excited when I saw a fellow tennessee-er, yeesh, though you'd think a southriner'd know a sarcastic tone when they saw one).ClayPs.-I getting my doctorate in philosphy at Yale as we speak and no I hate Budwiser but I do like i The Rock,and his stupid eyebrow trick.
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My husband and I have remodeling business in East Tenn. Granted I am not as physically strong as my husband, nor do I know as much about building, etc. as he does (I didnt have a four year school like he did), but I do ok. It is interesting, especially in the area we live, to note the responses from people when they understand that we are a husband and wife team who actually work together. And after they realize they there are only the two of us and that we dont have a 'crew' they look at me with the classic "and she's a girl" look. Don't get me wrong there aren't many people who give this look, most think that it's really great that we work together and that I don't mind hard work and getting dirty. So, just wondering if there are any other women in my postion and also what you other guys think about hammerchicks?