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Writer's pictureTiffany Tillema

The price of success: The health risks for women in Male-Dominated fields.


Women have long been fighting for equality in the workplace, especially in male-dominated fields. While progress has been made, women still face many challenges, including the pressure to prove themselves and work harder than their male counterparts.

In male-dominated fields such as technology, finance, engineering, and construction, women often find themselves in situations where they are the only female. This can be intimidating and lead to feelings of insecurity and self-doubt. To prove themselves and be taken seriously, many women feel the need to work harder and longer hours and take on more responsibilities than their male colleagues. This blog post explores some health risks associated with being a woman in male-dominated trades.


Stress


We all have stress, and it affects both men and women in the workplace. However, studies show that workplace stress is much higher in women than in men when the environment is more male-oriented. One recent study shows that the male stress level in the trades is about 17%, while females in the same trades report almost a 40% stress level. Stress can cause many health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, metabolic disorders, and immune system dysfunction. Why are women so much more prone to stress in the trades than men?

  1. Isolation—Most women are the minority in these spaces. This means that often, they are the only woman in the workspace, and they feel awkward or excluded from the social environment. Adversary stress comes when they don't feel that they can vent safely or have someone around them that they can feel safe and supported around.

  2. Bias—Whether intentional or accidental, Bias is still out there. As a society, there is still a certain expectation for gender roles. Leadership often questions the abilities and skills of women, and it is harder for them to advance in the company. Many women feel as if they have to compete with men, tiring them out mentally.

  3. Sexual harassment - Unfortunately, harassment is still a common occurrence on the job site and in the workplace. From statements and innuendos that are of a sexual nature to outright assault, harassment can take its toll on those who are a victim of it.

  4. Lack of career development—Many jobs lack opportunities for women to advance, especially into leadership roles. They often get overlooked for advancement opportunities, and less skilled men often receive advancement before well-qualified women.


How can we help alleviate some of the stress? We can add sexual harassment programs to our toolbox meetings. We can make sure our doors are open to advancement for qualified women. We can also have a mentorship program that provides them with a pathway to advance.


If you would like help with a mentorship program or a sexual harassment program for your company, feel free to email me at :


Physical Hazards


Women are exposed to the same hazards as men on most job sites. However, the effects of those hazards may have a very different outcome for women. Women who handle hazardous materials, for example, may expose themselves to chemicals that can cause infertility, stillbirth, and birth defects. Even if a woman does not plan on having children, she may increase her risk of certain cancers, such as breast and uterine cancer.


Tools are also made for men's hands. Handles and grips are made for larger hands with thicker fingers. Heavy machinery layouts are also made for men's comfort. Women are easier on the equipment, but they must learn to handle it safely.


Then, there is the fact that almost all safety equipment and PPE are meant for men's bodies. This may put women at risk for falling in the case of ill-fitting fall protection or pinch-and-squash hazards if her loose PPE gets caught up in machinery. I've seen women get nearly blown off scaffolding because to get Hi-Vis to fit over the chest, it was too loose around the waist, and the wind caught it!

We can help eliminate health hazards by implementing training programs on hazards unique to women so they can better protect themselves on the job. We can also collaborate with clothing and PPE companies to develop women's clothing and fall protection that fit properly for women's bodies so that they can be safe and confident.


Women also feel the need to compete with their male counterparts to fit in and prove they can do whatever the men can. While this is usually true, women can get hurt if they get in a hurry and let their guard down.

Women in male-dominated fields should not have to work themselves to death to prove their worth. The added stress of just bieng a woman can cause health issues, and the physical hazards are difficult for them as well; let's celebrate these hard-working women by making the job site safer for them.

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