In the traditionally male-dominated fields, breaking the skilled trades gender gap remains a pivotal challenge. As of 2022, women make up only 4% of all tradespersons in the US, highlighting the need for change.
Read on to delve into how we can actively contribute to closing the gender gap. Whether you are a business owner or a fellow tradesperson, here’s what you’ll learn:
The barriers to women entering the trades
How to support tradeswomen
Strategies for promoting inclusivity in skilled trades
How to address trades-specific workplace challenges
And more!
The following tips will help you create a welcoming environment for tradeswomen to enter and thrive in the industry.
One of the easiest yet overlooked ways to support tradeswomen is by representing them online. The IndustrialStores.com team observed the online presence of local HVAC companies and approximately 80% had little to no photos of tradeswomen. Why are there fewer photos of tradeswomen than men?
The reduced online representation of women in HVAC companies likely stems from historical gender norms and stereotypes which then translate into the imagery companies use. While this may seem trivial, here are a few reasons why this is important:
Representation matters: Balancing the use of women and men throughout your imagery sends a powerful message to prospective tradeswomen and clients. This can attract women to the trades and also can help an employer stand out over others when looking for qualified hires.
Breaks down stereotypes: Featuring women in skilled trades challenges traditional gender stereotypes associated with manual labor jobs, contributing to a more progressive and modern industry image.
Positive employee morale: Showcasing the diversity within the workforce can boost employee morale by creating a workplace that embraces differences and values every team member.
Now have a look at your online platforms, are there images representing your company that could be updated?
Also, you can take it offline and share some success stories with your team of important women in HVAC such as Alice H. Parker, who invented the natural gas heating system we are all familiar with today!
Tradeswomen often contend with preconceived notions that can make entering the industry more challenging, from skepticism about their physical capabilities to subtle biases that question their technical proficiency.
A recent report revealed that 44.4% of women seriously considered leaving the industry due to mistreatment and lack of respect, emphasizing the severity of the challenges faced. Recognizing their efforts through these challenges is crucial; a survey by OnePoll found that 46% of U.S. workers left a job because they felt unappreciated.
Whether it’s through verbal praise or a hand-written note, these simple acts of recognition not only acknowledge the resilience of women in the trades but also contribute to creating a workplace where their invaluable contributions are genuinely appreciated.
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Some still ask, is it hard to be a woman in the trades? While this may be an obvious one, systemic barriers to entering exist and the reality is that women still face sexism, discrimination and unwanted touching on the job. To provide some perspective, here are some things that women have experienced working in skilled trades:
“Both I and every other tradeswoman I met have dealt with harassment on job sites” (source).
“I’ve been physically threatened on the job site — both sexually and otherwise violently” (source).
"It can be an unsafe situation, like when women are not provided PPE that fits. It can also be more subtle, like being assigned to a task well below your ability” (source).
“I’ve been told probably thousands of times throughout my career that I don’t belong in the industry” (source).
It’s evident that harassment is still an ongoing issue which can be a reason why there are so little women in the trades but acknowledging its existence is not enough.
Harassment must not be taken lightly and whether big or small, to address the matter, consider this practical approach:
Gather all necessary information
Separate the parties involved
Investigate the matter further as often a complaint is a first sign that there is more to the matter
Take the necessary steps to cultivate a culture of allyship! But how? Continue reading into the section below, where we'll dive deeper into some actionable strategies.
4 - Promote an Inclusive Workplace Culture
Now that we've tackled the critical aspects of highlighting, recognizing, and addressing the challenges faced by females in trade jobs, the next step in creating a supportive environment is promoting an inclusive workplace culture. Here’s how:
Encourage open dialogue: With the disparity of how many females are in the trades relative to men, creating a safe space for team members to share their experiences and voice concerns is very important. You can do this by leading by example, hosting regular meetings, or having an anonymous feedback channel.
Promote upstander culture: Move beyond mere awareness of workplace issues by actively encouraging your team to be upstanders rather than bystanders by sharing real-life scenarios and embracing teamwork.
Establish clear reporting mechanisms: Revisit reporting portals every so often to ensure they are easily accessible, transparent, and free from retaliation.
Remember, it's not just about breaking down barriers; it's about building a foundation where every member of your team can thrive and contribute their unique skills and perspectives.
Please share this read about supporting women in the trades to provide valuable insights to your team. By highlighting the presence of tradeswomen online, recognizing their achievements, addressing workplace harassment, and promoting an inclusive culture, we can ALL take significant steps toward narrowing the gender gap in skilled trades.
About IndustrialStores.com
Committed to providing an inclusive work environment and premium products at affordable prices, we offer over 320,000 products to a wide range of trade professionals from HVAC techs to homeowners working on DIY projects. What differentiates us from other dealers is our dedication to ensuring our customers are satisfied and their needs are met ASAP. We offer personalized customer care for all your HVAC needs, eliminating the need to go from shop to shop and saving you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Are you a contractor or tradesperson looking to save EVEN MORE? Join ProDesk, where shipping rates are 64% less* than non-members, and receive monthly promotions and a permanent discount on all orders. *Learn more.
Share this blog:
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4 Effective Ways to Support Women in the Trades
In the traditionally male-dominated fields, breaking the skilled trades gender gap remains a pivotal challenge. As of 2022, women make up only 4% of all tradespersons in the US, highlighting the need for change.
Read on to delve into how we can actively contribute to closing the gender gap. Whether you are a business owner or a fellow tradesperson, here’s what you’ll learn:
The barriers to women entering the trades
How to support tradeswomen
Strategies for promoting inclusivity in skilled trades
How to address trades-specific workplace challenges
And more!
The following tips will help you create a welcoming environment for tradeswomen to enter and thrive in the industry.
One of the easiest yet overlooked ways to support tradeswomen is by representing them online. The IndustrialStores.com team observed the online presence of local HVAC companies and approximately 80% had little to no photos of tradeswomen. Why are there fewer photos of tradeswomen than men?
The reduced online representation of women in HVAC companies likely stems from historical gender norms and stereotypes which then translate into the imagery companies use. While this may seem trivial, here are a few reasons why this is important:
Representation matters: Balancing the use of women and men throughout your imagery sends a powerful message to prospective tradeswomen and clients. This can attract women to the trades and also can help an employer stand out over others when looking for qualified hires.
Breaks down stereotypes: Featuring women in skilled trades challenges traditional gender stereotypes associated with manual labor jobs, contributing to a more progressive and modern industry image.
Positive employee morale: Showcasing the diversity within the workforce can boost employee morale by creating a workplace that embraces differences and values every team member.
Now have a look at your online platforms, are there images representing your company that could be updated?
Also, you can take it offline and share some success stories with your team of important women in HVAC such as Alice H. Parker, who invented the natural gas heating system we are all familiar with today!
Tradeswomen often contend with preconceived notions that can make entering the industry more challenging, from skepticism about their physical capabilities to subtle biases that question their technical proficiency.
A recent report revealed that 44.4% of women seriously considered leaving the industry due to mistreatment and lack of respect, emphasizing the severity of the challenges faced. Recognizing their efforts through these challenges is crucial; a survey by OnePoll found that 46% of U.S. workers left a job because they felt unappreciated.
Whether it’s through verbal praise or a hand-written note, these simple acts of recognition not only acknowledge the resilience of women in the trades but also contribute to creating a workplace where their invaluable contributions are genuinely appreciated.
Some still ask, is it hard to be a woman in the trades? While this may be an obvious one, systemic barriers to entering exist and the reality is that women still face sexism, discrimination and unwanted touching on the job. To provide some perspective, here are some things that women have experienced working in skilled trades:
“Both I and every other tradeswoman I met have dealt with harassment on job sites” (source).
“I’ve been physically threatened on the job site — both sexually and otherwise violently” (source).
"It can be an unsafe situation, like when women are not provided PPE that fits. It can also be more subtle, like being assigned to a task well below your ability” (source).
“I’ve been told probably thousands of times throughout my career that I don’t belong in the industry” (source).
It’s evident that harassment is still an ongoing issue which can be a reason why there are so little women in the trades but acknowledging its existence is not enough.
Harassment must not be taken lightly and whether big or small, to address the matter, consider this practical approach:
Gather all necessary information
Separate the parties involved
Investigate the matter further as often a complaint is a first sign that there is more to the matter
Take the necessary steps to cultivate a culture of allyship! But how? Continue reading into the section below, where we'll dive deeper into some actionable strategies.
4 - Promote an Inclusive Workplace Culture
Now that we've tackled the critical aspects of highlighting, recognizing, and addressing the challenges faced by females in trade jobs, the next step in creating a supportive environment is promoting an inclusive workplace culture. Here’s how:
Encourage open dialogue: With the disparity of how many females are in the trades relative to men, creating a safe space for team members to share their experiences and voice concerns is very important. You can do this by leading by example, hosting regular meetings, or having an anonymous feedback channel.
Promote upstander culture: Move beyond mere awareness of workplace issues by actively encouraging your team to be upstanders rather than bystanders by sharing real-life scenarios and embracing teamwork.
Establish clear reporting mechanisms: Revisit reporting portals every so often to ensure they are easily accessible, transparent, and free from retaliation.
Remember, it's not just about breaking down barriers; it's about building a foundation where every member of your team can thrive and contribute their unique skills and perspectives.
Please share this read about supporting women in the trades to provide valuable insights to your team. By highlighting the presence of tradeswomen online, recognizing their achievements, addressing workplace harassment, and promoting an inclusive culture, we can ALL take significant steps toward narrowing the gender gap in skilled trades.
About IndustrialStores.com
Committed to providing an inclusive work environment and premium products at affordable prices, we offer over 320,000 products to a wide range of trade professionals from HVAC techs to homeowners working on DIY projects. What differentiates us from other dealers is our dedication to ensuring our customers are satisfied and their needs are met ASAP. We offer personalized customer care for all your HVAC needs, eliminating the need to go from shop to shop and saving you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Are you a contractor or tradesperson looking to save EVEN MORE? Join ProDesk, where shipping rates are 64% less* than non-members, and receive monthly promotions and a permanent discount on all orders. *Learn more.
Share this blog:
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