Male-Dominated Careers That Women are Making a Significant Mark In
“Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better than you”
This famous verse from the movie Annie Get Your Gun has proven to be a testament to many women across the globe that when it comes to men and women equality, there’s no such thing as coloring inside the lines.
For many years, women have been placed in a box, especially when it came to employment. Traditionally, women were placed in the role of being homemakers, meaning, cooking, cleaning, and tending to the children. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, it left little to no room for job opportunities for women that didn’t choose that life path.
Soon after that, when women were “allowed” to work, they were, yet again, placed in another box, working as a teacher or nurse. And again, there’s nothing wrong with working in female-dominated career paths either. But you also have to look at the women that don’t want to go down those paths either.
What is it about men that deems them so qualified for certain types of jobs that women are deemed unqualified for?
Nothing, really…
And that’s when women started to defy the odds and enter industries deemed inappropriate for women and left their unforgettable mark.
Today, if you look at some of the biggest male-dominated industries, you’ll see that the percentage of women in those industries range from small to large. Nonetheless, there’s no denying the fact that women are in those predominantly male industries.
In this article, let’s take a look at some of the top male-dominated careers that women are trailblazing.
Firefighters
Teachers will usually ask elementary-aged children what they want to be when they grow up. Normally it’s little boys that say firefighters, but with women breaking male-dominated barriers, it’s not so uncommon to hear little girls say they want to be firefighters as well.
Firefighters are first responders typically to fires and car accidents but they’re also at various other serious emergency situations. Extensive training and strength are required as well. Training will include three parts: manipulative firefighting drills, in-class education, and physical fitness training. It’s a physically and mentally demanding job. But once you get through training and pass all necessary exams and licensing, it’s one of the most rewarding careers one could ever hope to be part of.
Electricians
As an electrician, you’re not changing out light bulbs or hanging light fixtures… the risk involved is much deeper than just that. As an electrician, you’re going to be working with wires, cables, and dangerous lighting and power systems.
Traditionally, you see men working in this field. But it’s not uncommon to see women fixing faulty wires and being lifted to work on light poles. In order to work in this industry, it does require extensive training and state-specific exam prep for efficacy and safety protocols.
This is definitely an industry to enter with caution. But women are taking on the challenge, accepting the risk that comes with it, and in many cases, outperforming men!
Automotive Technician
More and more women are stepping out of the damsel in distress role of not knowing how to change a tire or change their oil… In fact, not only can women change their own tires, but they can repair an entire car!
From replacing an engine to changing a tire, women are no longer waiting on men to “help” them. They can buy the parts and repair or replace the damaged parts themselves! That reason alone is why you’re starting to see lots of women-owned car repair shops… All those boring lessons from dad about the importance of knowing how to change a tire are coming to fruition for many women.
Do you want to be labeled as a “girl boss?” Or to simply be recognized as a professional in your field? No matter, there’s no denying the fact that women are indeed leaving a huge mark in male-dominated industries.
Whatever career path you choose is up to you, and there’s no right or wrong path to choose. The point is to understand that regardless of your gender, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. If you want to be a stay-at-home mother, you have every right to do that… But if you want to become a welder, there’s nothing stopping you from doing that either.
