WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION?
A Photo Study
A: “Let’s put together a blog for WIC (Women in Construction) Week! We’ll grab some stock photos – since our team is always running around and don’t have time to take selfies onsite.”
B: “Sounds good. Let’s see what the stock library has…” [searches “women in construction”]
A: [looking at results] “Umm… Oh no…”
We've come so far, haven't we? That's what we thought until we started searching for stock photos of "women in construction." Among the results were the following:
Pink Tools + Hardhats
Though some women have embraced the color pink, especially within the breast cancer awareness community, a lot of us are trying to get away from this very specific gender stereotyping. When asking women in the industry, the majority responded that they would not want to stand out by wearing or using pink on the job site. Rather, they just want a safety vest that fits properly and tools that get the job done.
High Heels on Construction Sites
There is NO WAY a woman who knows anything about OSHA safety and PPE regulations would be wearing high heels while on a construction site. High heels have their place but protective gear will always be more appropriate for an active job site. If you do want to be more stylish onsite, or sport some steel-toe boots that can also be worn to the office, we recommend Xena Workwear.
Smiling Faces
Search for a man in construction and you'll get burly guys, arms crossed, and looking pretty standoffish. Search for a woman in the same industry, and you'll find inviting smiles. Nothing to be concerned about… just innocent ladies not looking to rock the boat.
Tablets + Clipboards
The search results are much more likely to show you pictures of women holding clipboards and/or tablets rather than using tools. Though there is a higher number of women in office and management roles - there should be readily available representation for all the women out there working hands-on in the trades. When young girls see equal representation of women in all areas of the workforce, they are more likely to think of it as a viable career option.
This Photo Shoot…
We really want to know what this photo shoot was put together for originally because whoever is responsible for this... Oof. Not only is this woman scantily clad (again there's a time and place) but she's also depicted as someone who looks helpless and foolish with the tools she's holding. The cherry on top? The keywords used in the title include "woman doing male work” and “handyman woman.” Yes, the construction industry is predominantly male, but there are better ways to represent the women that are in the industry as well.
We'll be posting throughout the week about our own stories, victories, and struggles in the industry. We've made huge strides but as these photo results show, we still have a way to go. Our daughters and granddaughters deserve better.