Kooteny WITT

For change to take place in getting more women into apprenticeship, we must all stop pretending we are not part of the problem. The "old boys" must consciously and conscientiously not only open their doors, but actively recruit, train and retain women from all the designated groups.

What Happens to Women in Tradesland
An Audio-Visual Presentation

Women's participation in the trades and technology workforce is growing.

According to Statistics Canada, 100,000 more women were employed in trades and technical work across the country this year than there were six years ago.

"What Happens to Women In Tradesland" is a slide-tape presentation that presents an overview of the experience of working in trades and technology workforce. Although women can and do benefit from viewing and discussing the show, the material has been specifically designed to focus on issues which have been identified by trades women, in terms and style easily identifiable by their brothers on the job or in the classroom.

This slide show presents some solid information about a subject often confused by myths and misunderstandings. As the material can generate feelings and questions that would be useful and important to address, a discussion guide and resource material have been developed to assist facilitators in responding to these questions. The show focuses on exploring the attractions to this type of work, the barriers for women, and roles, responsibilities, and avenues of action in problem solving.

Audience

"What Happens to Women in Tradesland" was developed by Women in Trades, Kootenay Council, in conjunction with a seminar, The Workplace in Transition: Integrating Women Effectively, and is designed to assist employers, job stewards, school instructors, foremen and employment counselors in dealing with the issues involved in women's increasing participation in the trades and technology workforce. It is also useful for:

mixed high school guidance classes
pre-trades courses for women
personnel managers
union groups

Educational Value

People who have seen "What Happens to Women in Tradesland" have said it provides

for men:

information about how women feel and react on the job in a way that men can understand
role models of women doing a variety of trades and technology work
real information and experiences that, once named, give people a handle by which to think and talk about the issues (e.g. how to respond, what really happens, what to do about it)

for women:

a greater variety of role models
broadened horizons and career aspirations
the obstacles and the reasons for over coming them, laid out in a straight forward manner

for mixed groups: