Promoting Women in Skilled Trades - Activities to Encourage Non-Traditional Careers Introductions Brenda Gilmore, Chair, Technology, Trades and Apprenticeship Conestoga College Rosie Hessian, Chair Community Outreach, Pathways and Youth Engagement – Conestoga College Mark Roth, Pathways Coordinator, Avon Maitland DSB, RPT 7 Brenda + all

Promoting Women in Skilled Trades - Activities to Encourage Non-Traditional Careers “Join us in exploring activities to encourage young women to choose non-traditional careers in skilled trades.” Brenda + all

Stats… Gender stereo type- social pressure in high school or younger to choose female oriented careers Discrimination- women are passed over for hiring, raises and promos Home responsibilities- childcare (4) Harassment- 9/10 women working in the constructions industry experience bullying or sexual harassment (3) Poverty- 1.5 million women are considered low income in Canada and are not able to afford skills training and pay for food and rent (2) Rosie

Stats… Women make up 48% of the Canadian workforce, however, women account for only 4.5%of skilled trades workers in Canada! The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (2015). The competitive advantage: A business case for hiring women in the skilled trades and technical professions. The Government of Canada. Retrieved March 6, 2017 from http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/rc-cr/bc-cb/index-en.html 2 The Canadian Women’s Foundation (2017). Fact sheet: Women and poverty in Canada. Canadian Women’s Foundation. Retrieved March 6, 2017 from http://www.canadianwomen.org/sites/canadianwomen.org/files//Fact%20Sheet%20-%20WOMEN%20%26%20POVERTY%20-%20February%202017.pdf 3 Elmer, V. (2014, June 11). Report: Women still face barriers in construction trades. The Washington Post. Retrieved March 6, 2017 from https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/06/11/report-women-still-face-barriers-in-construction-trades/?utm_term=.bd565100205a 4 Lebowitz, S. (2015, October 1). Women are less likely to get promoted. Business Insider. Retrieved March 6, 2017 from http://www.businessinsider.com/women-are-less-likely-to-get-promoted-2015-10

Barriers… Attitudes… “Oh you are too smart for that” Perceptions… “dirty job” Awareness…”You do not need to be good at math to go into the trades” Experience… “Oh, why do you want to do that, isn’t that a guy’s job” Confidence… “I can’t do this” Rosie

… we can do something about this Females Grades 7 to 12 ( or earlier) Encourage interest in the trades Schools to support skilled trades for women Introduce skilled trades opportunities in a safe environment Women supporting women in the trades (mentors)

Activities to encourage young women to choose non Traditional careers in Skilled Trades… TnT Day Jill of All Trades Mark’s - AMDSB Dual credit programs

TnT Days… a day for women Rosie TnT Days… a day for women TnT Day.. A Day for Women…

Brenda Jill of All Trades…

AMDSB activities

Rosie For women Only…

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