Women in Construction

[attendrevendredi]

It doesn't seem to have moved on a huge amount when it comes to sexism.

The men just seem to talk over women despite being wrong but women looked at like an idiot if they do the same.

If you do it, how do you do it?

By being self-employed. The people I work for these days have often chosen me in part precisely because I'm a woman and they prefer it (eg feel safer with a woman or feel I don't talk to them like they're stupid etc).
I've done a lot of site work, I've worked as part of a permanent maintenance/refurbishment team within an organisation with many listed buildings, and I have no desire to return to any of it.
It isn't just sexism though. DH (also construction but a different area) has recently changed jobs due to a number of incidents of both subtle and overt racism, which HR failed to deal with. It is an industry that modernises at a glacial rate.

By mate works in a builder's yard. Best worker there. Been there over 20 years. She only took the job because the lads there said she'd never hack it...

I find it really hard, and it’s one of the reasons I’m looking to move away from construction.

I’m not even sure they’re aware they’re doing it - but asking me to check something with one of the guys in my team because they didn’t trust my answer, or if something is wrong, immediately assuming it’s because of an error on my part, really gets to me some days.

I’ve seriously had enough.