Hay if you want to see something go to the Womeninwoodworking web site
it is a link from www.rockler.com
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Why not go straight there at:
http://www.womeninwoodworking.com/
Interesting topic. Is there an area in the U.S. where women are prevalant in the construction industry? I once worked at a truss plant that had 3 women working in the plant. Two were good workers, and the other one was a dud. But there sure aren't many out there. I've never seen a woman in the field working on building a house. (With the exception of one painter I know)
It would be a welcome change for me - I see way, way too many sweaty, crabby guys on jobsites.................(-:
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
BH,
There was an interesting article in the monday paper on this subj. You might be able to get to it http://www.ocregister.com. It was in the business section. If its still there . Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Here's a direct link to the article the "other" Ron mentioned:
http://www.ocregister.com/sitearchives/2002/4/8/business/cover00408cci1.shtml
Interesting story, but not really much useful information or statistics.
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
My first job after highschool was in a truss plant that was run by a woman. She taught me how to set up tables and run a component saw. Pretty soon I was runnning my own crew which consisted of me and two other women. It didn't take long before we were bustin trusses out faster than any of the other tables.
When my oldest stepdaughter was in highschool she would help me after school and during the summers. Thankfully she has gone on to college but she is a pretty good carpenter and would be a good addition to any framing crew.
Dave
Hey Dave -
Which woman and which truss plant? Might be someone I know.........
Email me at [email protected] if you don't want to post names here.
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
Boss, I wish I could remember my two crew members names but I can't. My bosses name was Paula (can't remember her last name), she was this biker from Florida. We were working at Woodward Lumber Co. in Las Cruces, N.M.
Dave
Sorry, Dave, but I don't know anyone from that company. The truss industry is sort of a "small world" so you never know.......
I've met people from plants all over the country, which is kinda neat.
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
I have two women in my current class, graduating in a few weeks. One is good, and smart. The other is very, very, very, very good, and smart and motivated....also the top student in Autocad and related stuff. I would definitely hire her in a minute. I don't know yet how many in next years crop; lots, I hope.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
C'mon Adrian...
"Women" in woodworking are a dime a dozen. Keep on your two current women students. Work them hard, teach them well, and hopefully you can help transform them into what the construction industry really needs:
More "gurls."<g>
Hope all is well with you and yours,
Mongo
Female wood butchers? I can't say for the building trades, but I really enjoy working with female furniture makers. They're not as physically strong maybe, but they're just as smart, just as inventive, and just as creative, and they have a slightly different, but equally valid take on the whole thing. They aren't better---but they are certainly equal, and anyone that doesn't see or know that is a plankton of the first order. But then I'm just the archetypal effeminate, pinkie tilting, male furniture maker myself just dropping in from Knots, so what the hell would I know about it? Slainte, RJ.
Edited 4/14/2002 2:35:41 AM ET by Sgian Dubh
plankton of the first order
Good one! I need to remember that, unfortunately.
I noticed in the newspaper article, the author couldn't refrain from giving the height-to-weight ratios of the women.
I await the day when they profile "John Smith, 6'-2" and hung like a horse, gives classes on the fine art of crewel. The women were gob-smacked to see that he managed to thread the needle without female assistance, but he allowed as how his wife, Peaches, still helped him choose appropriately-hued yarns due to his color-blindness."
I see way, way too many sweaty, crabby guys on jobsites
Not to MENTION the increasing number on Websites!!!
T. Jeffery Clarke
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum
Edited 4/12/2002 2:19:16 PM ET by Jeff Clarke
"Not to MENTION the increasing number on Websites!!!
Ain't goin' there Jeff - I ain't stirred up any trouble in a while. No sense starting now...............(-:
Truss Designer Extraordinaire
At the trade school I went to years ago.....the class sizes ran about 30 students. The class before mine had one girl..and the class behind us had 2.
The top instructor said the girls usually did better than the guys. The girls almost always placed in the tops of their classes. He though because they made a conscious decision to enter a male dominated field...they were more committed to learn....as opposed to half the guy students that were there just because they're buddy decided to go and put off the real world for a year and a half. Made sense.
The girl in the class ahead wasn't what you'd call "girly"......but the two in the following class definitely wouldn't be mistaken for guys on the site! One of which had done some small scale modeling. Both as I understand it were great students and should have had a good future in carpentry. Jeff * Jeff J. Buck/ Buck Construction/ Pittsburgh, PA *
2nd Generation Buck Const, 3rd generation Craftsman
It aient no secret Ive been taking some construction courses at a local college and will continue to do so, as a DIYer I always want to improve my skills. The last class I took had a lady who worked for one of the largest builders around this area "Lyon Homes" anyway she worked her butt off as hard or harder then most of the guys in the class including the ones in the trades that were taking the class. She did very good work. If I had a crew she could be on it any day of the week. Not to mention she kinda looked like "Our new helper" except she had brown hair heheheh....Hey Jan Ill hold the ladder for ya heheheh..No problem at all heheheh <G> Darkworksite4: When the job is to small for everyone else, Its just about right for me"
Well, it was tile in my case, and on most jobs I was the only woman. I was definitely one of the better workers (faster, more accurate) but didn't have the upper body strength to match most men. I could, however, carry 2 bags of cement a short distance (lift one, have someone put the second on top), even though I weighed 110!
I think it's true that many women who enter non-traditional fields try harder in order to fit in better. I loved the teamwork, challenges (what is underneath this tearout, etc.), seeing homes of wealthy folks, exercise (I was buff!), beautiful end project. Oh, and you can save your $--hoe mud to reduce breast size LOL!
Worked w/a real flakey (but extraordinarily gifted artist)woman once--but she was scre-w-ing the boss. He even asked me to tell her to work harder/faster. Whipped!
Dont know much abot woman builders but I ALWAYS recommend my woman architect...Sick of those macho know it all dudes with an attitude that totally dont listen. Maybe I just like woman and the approch that comes from sensitivity....With two sister.two daughters and my mom and a loving wife..I think woman have more to offer the creativness in the building trade then is recognized
Namaste'
Andy
I worked with two female carp.s in Whistler, both excellent. Chantal was the better of the two and recently built her own home c/w concrete countertops, brilliant job!
My eight year old daughter loves to come with me to the boatyard and help with the work, she wants to be a boatbuilder. She will probably make it there before me, I dabble until I can do it full time, the other skills pay the rent.
If it is to be, 'twil be done by me..
Edited 4/14/2002 1:48:44 PM ET by Philter
I have a stepson and a step daughter. Hes not worth the powder;however she has been an exellent hand for me and who ever she wants to work for. She does it all inside a home and a fine job.
I would like to see more of them on job sites.
In the mid 80s I was working on a large, twin towers 7 stories each, site for the state. It was announced that women would be working on the site. . Word came down that harassment would get any individual and potentially the contractor ejected from the site and possibly from further state jobs in this area. There was lots of grumbling and jokes.
After the majority female drywall crew started most people seemed impressed, in private, with their performance. One or two men who couldn't handle it left. Most of the loudest anti female guys held their tongues. A frequent comment a breaks, in all male company, was that the ladies were working out. One of the loudest complainers before their arrival privately commented that the entire site seemed a better place to work. Cussing, rude, and obscene behavior had greatly moderated. The Portapotties had working locks installed and were getting cleaned regularly. A great improvement from the hold it until you can't stand it and then hold your nose while trying to hold down your lunch sort of environment before. Even the normally crusty and sometimes filthy water jugs and break area got cleaned up. I even saw a carpenter who constantly chewed tobacco swallow rather than spit where the ladies were working. Maybe it is true. We need the women to keep us from wallowing in our own filth and to remind us of our better nature.