How many women welders, mechanics, linesmen, construction, plumbers, and electricians do you know? Because I can't name one that I personally know. Why is that?

These careers are important in maintaining the way of life that we want with running cars and having electricity every day. These careers have higher wages then most fields and have a steady work all seasons of the year. Most community colleges often offer two year programs or shorter for all types of trade vocations, but they are often socially segregated by male and female stigma trades. If a girl is considering a trade they are so often pushed towards the medical, beauty or business spectrum of trade occupations instead. I'm not putting down these career fields as they are just as important as other careers, but this push can't be ignored.

In high school, I noticed there was a bigger push for boys to go into these trades, but not girls. I think that if I wasn't a girl I would have most likely not have gone to a university and would have picked a trade like welding, electrician, and or a linesmen. I hate that I make the statement, "if I wasn't a girl," but sadly I can't deny it. Our society has set standards of what a women should have as an occupation and frankly it sucks. Yes, women are not limited to certain choices for a career, but the choice to choose careers that suits their family often takes more precedence over the career choice. Trades like a electrician or plumber don't fit around family schedules very well, because they are needed at all times of the day. But defying the odds or struggles of these occupations would pave the way for possible future women in these trades.

So how do we defy gender barriers? By starting young, giving your daughter legos, a big dump truck, or a play work station. Their imagination will take on new heights. And throughout their lives constant encouragement of exploration of things outside their gender barrier will pave their way to leadership. But its not something that can be forced support the wants and needs of children and young adults.