Sexism and Working in A Male Dominated Field

I have only been working at my new job, Jack of All Trades for the last 5 months. I built my own company after having bad luck with employers and the job market due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up I always liked fixing things and doing projects with my dad, and over the years I have picked up various skills and trades.

I was laid off of a full-time position at a local company after 3 weeks, after I recovered from that blow, I began job hunting again looking for income. I sent numerous applications out and received an interview request from another well-known company in town to come in to talk about their lube technician position working on vehicles. I went in with good expectations and was quickly disappointed. For living in the 21st century where we preach gender equality and woman’s rights, I saw the workplace and its “equality” through rose-colored glasses until they were quickly shattered during this interview and I have since seen how things really are.

During the interview, the man voiced his concern about me working in the garage since they never had a woman work the floor, I replied by asking him if that would be a problem. He proceeded to mention my height and his concern on how I was supposed to lift heavy equipment like tires; mind you I am in good shape and have trained with heavy and hazardous equipment at our city fire department. I was then offered maternity leave if I need it, which I did not ask or mention as he had automatically assumed since I was a woman, I would need it? I was very disappointed and honestly mad about how it was handled and how I had witnessed sexism firsthand, but it gets worse…

They called later that week and did not offer me the technician position but instead said I could push a broom around the garage floor. I nicely declined, thankfully I handled it like my mom (kill em with kindness) I then proceeded to vent my frustration and shock to my family, especially my mom and my future mother in law who were equally as mad about the situation.

Upon that ordeal and crickets regarding applications, I decided to work for myself and start my own company. I bought a truck and created Jack of All Trades to put all of the skills I have learned to use. My goal was to help others with what they needed at an affordable price while also providing a living for myself. I make my own hours, workdays, projects, advertise, balance the books; I do it all. I love going against the social norm of being in a male dominated field. I paint, clean carpets, do lawn care, snow removal, the list goes on.

The majority of my work interactions have been positive, but I still look at moments that have stood out and taken me off guard.

As for my new job, I have been asked if I am the Jack or the Jill of the company. I have been called sir on multiple occasions while at the hardware store shopping for supplies. Today while I was doing snow removal for a local bar and grill, multiple people made comments on how horrible of a job it was to shovel snow. However, the comment that stuck out the most was from a middle aged woman, “one of the guys working inside should be out here doing that, not you.”

But why not me? I am all for chivalry and I appreciate when my fiancé does something like open my door or helps do something, but I am still capable. It showed me the reality even 5 months in that such things still exist in the world. It’s why my job is important, it breaks sexism ideologies, is a female owned business, and I serve God and help his people in the process.