I work in construction, which is still very much  a male dominated field, stereotypically so. Even the very few women that I work with are masculine in the sense that they're tough and a little rough around the edges. Not that there is anything wrong with this, I've met great people that I work with, it's just that I feel like a fish out of water. I would imagine the military and law enforcement would be similar.

For anyone that worked in these fields (or similar) did you stay in this field?  Did that career just fit our did you leave?

Hey Hannah!  I just edited your post, but all I changed was the title.  It said "Make dominated" and I changed it to "Male dominated."

*Backs off spelling bee queen soapbox*

Thanks. It was posted from my phone so I'm surprised that was the only spelling error.

Hi Hannah,

I'm in commercial construction also and my experience is the same as yours.   There is no way I can transition in this career. I am stealth at work and I will go FT soon when I retire.   And yes, I too feel very out of place at my job but it pays the bills for now.

Jennifer

Depends on what type of construction you're talking about. If it's building then you're hardly gonna see any tiny size 8 models lifting bricks and putting up framing, they would naturally have been rough and masculine otherwise they wouldn't have picked it.

I'm at college for electrical work, circa 30 people in my class, all men. It's one of the physically easier trades yet still most women would rather do beauty, journalism, humanities or some other pointless crap. Good thing is though most of the time at work you're stuck on your own or with only one other guy, so it doesn't really matter, you won't feel like the odd one out unless it's large scale construction in which case you'd probably be stuck with a bunch of commoner-than-common men who laugh at their own jokes.

Quote from: 8888 on September 19, 2011, 05:15:19 PM
Depends on what type of construction you're talking about. If it's building then you're hardly gonna see any tiny size 8 models lifting bricks and putting up framing, they would naturally have been rough and masculine otherwise they wouldn't have picked it.

I'm at college for electrical work, circa 30 people in my class, all men. It's one of the physically easier trades yet still most women would rather do beauty, journalism, humanities or some other pointless crap. Good thing is though most of the time at work you're stuck on your own or with only one other guy, so it doesn't really matter, you won't feel like the odd one out unless it's large scale construction in which case you'd probably be stuck with a bunch of commoner-than-common men who laugh at their own jokes.

I'm talking commercial construction and multi-million dollar projects. There are a lot of the common type man that works on these projects along with really intelligent and educated guys, you might be surprised. I don't know if I'd be better if I was back working with my tools or managing people like I am now. Every day I deal with more than a dozen different guys. My total lack of interest in sports, fishing, hunting and trucks makes a lot of interactions difficult and boring.

Im a size 9 and Im the hardest worker my company has. As well as the smartest.
Im a commercial and industrial electrician
Im NICET 2 and I specialize in automated systems, and manufacturing lines.

Ive made my company quite a bit of money, and while Im not out, they cannot be blind to the changes.

I have been called gay, and I adamantly defend gay, lesbian and trans rights on the job.

Im not giving up. I make very good money with excellent benefits, they are going to have to chase me out, and they better be ready for a legal fight if its not on my terms.

The thing is, I dont think its going to go down like that.
They gave me a company vehicle the same day siemmens called me unsolicited and offered me a job.   I made quite a reputation for myself designing and installing the Aria hotels fire alarm system.   

I have skills and I intend to use them for my financial security. 

Idk what the future holds, but Im going to keep showing up and getting jobs done.   What else can I do, run, quit, hide?    maybe at home, but not when they pay me so much money.
Not when every employee Ive ever had has complimented me on my skills, work ethic and the way I treat people, even as I lay them off, and certainly not when the head of our nationwide company calls me up and thanks me and says Ive made a difference in the company.  Ive never thought of myself as all that, but Im going to take it for what its worth now :-)

People with real world, craft-type, top level skills are usually not in trouble, it's the marginal - and particularly the unskilled - workers who have trouble.

I'm a telecommunications tech. However sometimes I do quite possibly the worst thing imaginable during the hot Louisiana summers: climb around in attics.

However, I start cosmetology school on the 5th of October

  uhh  attics....  no thanks....alas I do do it....