Females in the trade

AubreyMac

I have always lived in London and see many things that people may consider weird.

The other week I had to do a double take when I saw a female taxi driver. Honest to god I have never seen one before. Not that there's anything wrong with it, just that I've never seen one (and I didn't notice I've not seen one before until that day).

In a previous work place one of the security guards was a woman and yes she did get a lot of banter based on her gender. It was nothing derogatory, but most of the banter and questions did come from men.

My heritage is not white british but I did work in a greasy spoon cafe when I was a student. You will not believe the amount of people who make comments on an ethnic serving english food!

PlutoinCapricorn

I wouldn't give a mounted policewoman a second glance - nor a female bus driver - because there are so many of them. I think I would be surprised if I saw a female construction worker or crane driver though: all the huge number I have seen are male. Women were doing many "men's jobs" during the First World War - and in the Second.

PlutoinCapricorn

I thought nothing of it when I went on jury service and got a lady judge. I remember though that during the decades that my meter was read quarterly, I got someone different each time and they were all men. If a woman had shown up I would have been astounded, not because I thought only men could do that (I used to read it myself if they left a card because I wasn't in) but because it was different from what I had subconsciously learned to expect.

Voyager2002

I remember feeling rather uncomfortable when I boarded a BA jumbo jet and the captain came on to make an announcement -- and it was a man speaking! Previously I had flown trans-Atlantic on Virgin Atlantic and it was always a woman in charge, so I kind of expected that it was a job for women. If that many people depend on the decisions the captain makes you want someone careful rather than macho in charge...

However, the very camp air stewards on Air France do a very good job at serving champagne, so I have nothing against men in the air.

tea_lover

Brace yourself for tomorrow OP, you might see women voting. You'll probably need a sit down after that.

agrinnall

OP, have you been in a convent (or prison) for the last 30 years, you seem to be completely unaware of the rise of women in the UK workforce. I suggest you have a read of the ONS report below, just a small taster from it:

"In April to June 2013 around 67% of women aged 16 to 64 were in work, an increase from 53% in 1971".

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_328352.pdf

AubreyMac

Are people really surprised when someone finds it surprising to see a women doing what's traditionally a male job? That doesn't mean someone lives in the old days, it just means they've not seen it before.

My colleagues husband is a male midwife, something I've never heard of before and didn't know existed. Wouldn't he be called a midhusband?

AubreyMac

tea_lover wrote: »

Brace yourself for tomorrow OP, you might see women voting. You'll probably need a sit down after that.

I sure hope they've cleaned the house and cooked their hubby's dinner first.

comeandgo

I can assure you we have females doing all the construction jobs, demolition experts, explosives, crane drivers, digger drivers, hgvs, brickies, though not many and they don't usually complete apprenticeship, plenty painters, joiners, electricians and plumbers.
If you have the correct qualifications there is no reason why a female cannot work in any of the construction trades.

Piggywiggy

I do a predominantly male job, in my work I have never had a bad word said to me, in the supermarket on several occasions I have been looked at in suprise that I can manage to pick up a bag of dog food without help.

OP I say go for it, whatever you think people are saying/thinking they probably aren't and if you are good at it that's what you will be remembered for.