to think that all the people who have a problem with people using "girls" instead of "women"

[CartwrightMiss]

Should say "womanfriend" instead of "girlfriend"?

[gron]

So in short, go for it

There's a lot of common sense on this thread!

And, while you're at it, pick up any dinosaurs who refer to adult women as girls

The thing is, feminism got the law changed so that builders can't refuse a woman a job on grounds of her sex. Feminism can't magically spirit a load of women into those jobs, but it's made the jobs available. In your opinion, then, Ilike and Techno, what's stopping fit, young women from going for them?

... I'm old enough to have actually been refused a job on a building site because I'd "distract the men". Nobody can reasonably claim there's no need for feminism, or that patriarchy respects women equally. The chap told me I was the best applicant. But he still wouldn't hire me.

garlic, I think it is because, as a poster said upthread, she was not offered, or it was not talked about her becoming a paver, lorry driver or a central heatinng installer etc.

I am not sure you would be refused now garlic. They wouldnt dare I wouldnt think.
I think some predominantly male working environments would actively enjoy having females around.

No, I wouldn't be refused now, Ilike, because feminists got the law changed.

I agree with your post about why young women don't think of going for those jobs. So feminism would like this to change, now (or sooner, for preference!) On a personal level, we can do our part by reminding young women there are well-paid jobs, with apprenticeships, available in the trades.

The other day I was talking to a little girl, 7yo, who lives near me. She was talking about attraction. What would you like to attract? I asked her. She said "Men!" When I suggested she might want to attract something else instead, like flowers or cars or animals ... she said she'd attract a man so he could get the animals and they'd both look after them!

With the attitude that a girl can't get what she wants by herself (without a man) being so ingrained at such a young age, you can surely see why feminists feel there's still a huge bundle of work to be done? And that's without even thinking of the terrible degradations Freya was talking about, in other places.