Being Female Working In A Male Dominated Industry...

FlooringChick

well...it's just THE BEST!!! I would rather jump naked into a cactus pit than work in a room full of women - not sure I could handle that.

The Positives of being female working in a man's domain?

* Well, first of all the obvious. Who wants to look at women everyday when there are so many guys around?
* They've taught me so many things and have patiently guided me each and everyday.
* They have taught me how to use my feminine skills in a good way and to take advantage of being female in a respectful way.
* They have made me laugh my head off constantly
* I have proved to them that I can dish it right back to them
* Even though people say it's impossible, I do consider all of these guys best friends and I could go to them with any problems I may have and they would with me
* They send me sick and demented e-mails and I fire them the same type
* They've taught me to check my emotions at the door and get the job done
* They've laughed with me, cried with me, taught me many things about the male psyche
*We've shared family picnics, business suppers with reps, and nice cold beer at the end of a tough day.
* We've seen each others kids grow up and be nurtured.
* I've helped them with relationships, buying gifts for their wives and girlfriends and provided them with the female perspective.
* As I thought they were cold-hearted at the beginning of my career, they kicked me out in the trenches and told me to sink or swim. I swam thanks to them.
* I've seen death with one best friend whose time came too early. I never had the chance to thank him for all he'd taught me.
* I've learned I can be one of the boys, while still being a girl.
* I've learned that men are simple creatures, and I mean this in a good way. Women are so much more complicated.

I couldn't be in a better place and just wanted to share this.
If any of the males on here have had a female thrown into their business, give them a chance as mine did for me and I have ended up with friends I will cherish forever!

neolitic

Glad it's been so positive for you...
of course you realize that probably
had a lot to do with who you are!

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genecarp

i feel like i am on oprahs thread

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mdshunk

All this mushy-gushy stuff is really weirding me out.

Carport King

Hey we hire them all and we love them all. Women are good for our trade and I believe in hiring them in our sales departments.

Yes we have some of the best in the business! Glad to here from you and may you be a mentor to someone else. Thanks

wyoming 1

How about a group hug..........................Ok maybe not. I agree with neolitic it has a lot to do with who you are.

davy crockett

Cried with you????Please expound on that a little.

MALCO.New.York

"I've seen death with one best friend whose time came too early. I never had the chance to thank him for all he'd taught me."

Probably something to do with this line.

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tool junkie

"* I've learned I can be one of the boys, while still being a girl."

Reminds me of back when I learned I could be one of the ladies, while still being a man.

j/k
hey welcome to the forum lady

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chris n

I would rather jump naked into a cactus pit

I think I would pay to see that!

JonM

Its never amazes me what a man will do or say on the off chance he will get a ...well you know....

SelfContract

She's a tom-boy... and who else is a tom-girl in here !??...

LaurieC

Welcome to the site,

The guys I work with treat me the same as they anyone else. I do my job, they do theirs...or I'll fire them. (and I'm not even in sales.)

sivak

One of the painting contractors I use employs quite a few women on the crew.
They hold their own and do a good job,that's all that matters to me.

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FlooringChick

NEO: I was waxing poetic. That glass of wine helped me in thinking of all the positives.

GENE: I say better the Oprah show than Dr. Phil. Now THOSE are some messed up people!

MDSHUNK: Great - I weirded you out! Don't worry - there won't be too many more mushy-gushy's - maybe you should get mushy-gushy more often with your wife or GF - she may like that.

CARPORT: I'm so glad hiring women has been a good thing for you.

WYOMING: Bring on the group hug.

DAVY CROCKETT: Yes, cried with me. A couple of the guys went through some nasty splits with long-time marriage and poured their hearts out. I only listened, because that makes a good friend.

MALCO: Thanks for the nice saying and the link to it. Much appreciated.

TOOL JUNKIE: I am so glad you're in touch with your feminine side - we need more of that, so I'm glad you could act like a lady. LOL

CHRIS: I'll re-phrase jumping into a cactus pit naked to "I'd rather be pecked to death by ducks". Maybe it should have been a cacti pit in the plural. Hehe.

JON: About men saying or doing anything? Yup, sometimes they do, but a woman has to have her wits about her and make it clear what she's all about.

SELF: Sorry...no tomboy for me - never been one and never been called one. I like being a girly-girl.

LAURIE: Nice to meet you - you go girl! Sounds like you have your stuff really together.

SIRAK: There are lots of great men and women painters in my City, and I agree - I tend to tailor then more to the customers personality.


It's no surprise that women play a part in many male-dominated industries, but we sometimes have to work twice as hard to prove ourselves.

I've been (believe it or not) the only female in the flooring industry for the last 20 years in this town and no matter what...still contend with people asking when the fellow can come over and measure. When I tell them I will do it, I get a surprised look...."YOU? will do this?" Still bugs the he** out of me, but I consider these people a challenge and make the best of it.

Have a great day!!

We Do it ALL

I'm curious as to how long you've been in this industry. I am the only woman in my company, other than the lady upstairs (secretary) and I absolutely love it. Yes, I'm a tomboy but I pull off a 3 piece suit better than any other country girl in my town! I've been doing this for almost two years now, went to school for FIVE YEARS to be an attorney, caught a job in flooring sales while planning to move over 2000 miles away, fell in love with the job and stayed home. Now I've moved from that job to, still flooring, a general contractor. We added on our HI division about 3 years ago, I've learned a TON and love it. I agree with you, being the only woman in a man's industry...it IS great!!

FlooringChick

I'm curious as to how long you've been in this industry. I am the only woman in my company, other than the lady upstairs (secretary) and I absolutely love it. Yes, I'm a tomboy but I pull off a 3 piece suit better than any other country girl in my town! I've been doing this for almost two years now, went to school for FIVE YEARS to be an attorney, caught a job in flooring sales while planning to move over 2000 miles away, fell in love with the job and stayed home. Now I've moved from that job to, still flooring, a general contractor. We added on our HI division about 3 years ago, I've learned a TON and love it. I agree with you, being the only woman in a man's industry...it IS great!!

************************************************** *******

I have been in the industry almost 20 years (I am 47). I thought I would quit on about my 3rd Day, but the guys I worked with told me to hang on.

I've built a wonderful clientele over the years and am always amazed at how they find me. I did 12 years at a major retailer...wandered over to a home building place (worst 5 year sentence ever) then opened my own shop (3 years), and now I am working out of a high end place, where I do flooring and design work at my own pace. I LOVE It.

I have been in the trenches (I am one who will show up on a jobsite to see what they have to go through).

Private message me anytime, sweetie and we can share some stories. I am glad you can handle things.

FC

TimSim

Good to see a lady getting involved in the trade. Nevermind all the lads around here!

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Cdat

Feel the love. This place is getting a little too 'fluffy' for me.

tool junkie

Hey Cdat... I love you man!!!

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