Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 8 replies
  • Subscribers 15 subscribers
  • Views 764 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion has been locked.
You can no longer post new replies to this discussion. If you have a question you can start a new discussion

Zoomup Women and BS7671

lyledunn
In a current thread, the intrepid Zoomup refers to his professional etiquette with female customers. I think I understand the reason why he mentioned it, given the boiling anxiety and rightful anger of women following the appalling murder of Sarah Everard. But what efforts are we making as an industry to provide a safe and attractive career for females in electrical installation work? I was part of a scheme twenty years ago that set about trying to do just that but it failed miserably as it was under resourced and really lacked any enthusiastic drive.

Just look at the plethora of males that dominate our industry. I wonder how many females have found a place on JPEL 64? 

There are lots of reasons why females would not give the electrical installation industry a second glance but I believe a re-invigorated, seriously well-funded body should commence the efforts to change that. A body like the IET perhaps? Whoever it may be, we all have a role to play even if it is just following what Zoomup does!
  • 0
    lyledunn:

    In a current thread, the intrepid Zoomup refers to his professional etiquette with female customers. I think I understand the reason why he mentioned it, given the boiling anxiety and rightful anger of women following the appalling murder of Sarah Everard. But what efforts are we making as an industry to provide a safe and attractive career for females in electrical installation work? I was part of a scheme twenty years ago that set about trying to do just that but it failed miserably as it was under resourced and really lacked any enthusiastic drive.

    Just look at the plethora of males that dominate our industry. I wonder how many females have found a place on JPEL 64? 

    There are lots of reasons why females would not give the electrical installation industry a second glance but I believe a re-invigorated, seriously well-funded body should commence the efforts to change that. A body like the IET perhaps? Whoever it may be, we all have a role to play even if it is just following what Zoomup does!


    Back in the 90s I undertook electrical training for a class of twelve students. This involved workshop skills and theory plus regulations.  My new class had eleven  men and  just one woman. The majority of applicants were men. All of the students passed all of their City and Guilds exams including the Regs. exam., also the practical AM2 test. About half went on to get jobs as electricians, some with the local "Electricity Boards."


    We did not differentiate because of gender. All students were equal and valued as such. They all worked hard and did quality homework which was handed in on time. Two of the men were a bit troublesome and would have been better off somewhere else.


    Perhaps it is just that women do not really fancy construction site work, but men don't mind the conditions.


    Z.






     


  • 0
    My daughter sometimes complains that I didn't teach her "boy things" when she was young, but she showed no interest at all and, frankly, no aptitude. Pure thoughts, men, pure thoughts! "Boy things" means taking things apart and fixing them.


    No. 1 granddaughter showed no interest at all when I was rewiring their house; no 2 granddaughter showed just a little, but didn't seem to want to know how it works. When I was little, I enjoyed watching tradesmen at work and wanted to be able to do it myself.


    So I think that it is simply the case that most girls simply are not interested. There were no women in any of the resettlement courses that I did, but that reflects the sex ratio in the armed forces.


    There may be some women who start an apprenticeship and find laddish behaviour on site or elsewhere intolerable. If that is the case, the issue needs to be addressed.
  • 0
    An expression came to my mind when I recently read about "Engineers Without Borders U.K." An article in E&T Volume 16 Issue 1st Feb. 2021. Written by Nick Smith.


    The expression that came to mind was "Engineering with a Soul". We blokes just install stuff and get it working. We apply rules and regs. to ensure safety. We mend stuff if it breaks down. A somewhat heartless position.


    One statement in the article by the C.E.O. says: "A big part of what we do is to portray (the) environmental  narrative of purpose in engineering because we recognise that it is incredibly important."  especially when it comes to getting a more diverse generation of young people to want to become engineers.


    Engineers Without Boarders is concerned with corporate social responsibility. It is concerned with influencing, educating and inspiring.


    When Bob Geldof made us aware of the Ethiopian famine in the 80s, one international N.G.O. responding to the crisis  threw open a challenge, 


    "YOU ARE ENGINERS COME AND HELP US."


    That is the spirit of Engineers Without Borders.


    Perhaps women will be more attracted to engineering if it has a soul and real social purpose attached to it.


    The C.E.O. of Engineers Without Borders U.K. is Katie Cresswell-Maynard.


    Z.







  • 0
    I feel I need to add my thoughts here the terrible murder of Sarah does cause added anxiety I'm glad really I don t have to go out as I think until things settle down it won't be an easy thing. When I was a girl back in  the dim and distant I was not encouraged to learn what was considered boys things it was always considered ide be better off pursuing a career as a dress maker or something similar I could of given up but my interest in all things electric kept me going even when I had setbacks maybe im more determined than most  I don't know I think I made the right choice tho
  • 0
    Join - Engineers Without Borders UK (ewb-uk.org)


    Z.
  • 0
    Kelly Marie Angel:

    I feel I need to add my thoughts here the terrible murder of Sarah does cause added anxiety I'm glad really I don t have to go out as I think until things settle down it won't be an easy thing. When I was a girl back in  the dim and distant I was not encouraged to learn what was considered boys things it was always considered ide be better off pursuing a career as a dress maker or something similar I could of given up but my interest in all things electric kept me going even when I had setbacks maybe im more determined than most  I don't know I think I made the right choice tho


    Hello Kelly,

                          it's lovely to hear from you again. I hope that you are well. Please investigate Engineers Without Borders, you may enjoy what you find and meet new friends as well.


    Bye,


    Z.


  • 0
    Back in the 80's, a sixth-form friend of mine was encouraged to sign up on a "women in science and engineering" one-day seminar type thing. Part of it consisted of a visit to a local engineering firm. During a visit to the shop floor, she and the others were met with a barrage of wolf-whistles etc. She quickly decided that engineering wasn't the career for her. Hopefully things are a little better now.
  • 0
    Chris Pearson:


    No. 1 granddaughter showed no interest at all when I was rewiring their house; no 2 granddaughter showed just a little, but didn't seem to want to know how it works. When I was little, I enjoyed watching tradesmen at work and wanted to be able to do it myself.


    So I think that it is simply the case that most girls simply are not interested. 


    I would beg to differ with that comment Chris. Did you attempt to engage your granddaughter's interest in what you were doing or were you expecting them to take an interest of their own accord?


    I was very lucky that my Dad introduced me to car mechanics and general maintenance from a very young age and although I never became a mechanic, I know my way around a car engine enough not to be taken advantage of when it needs work. I'm also very comfortable with fixing my own electronics and do so regularly.


    I never went into engineering because, firstly I never had any real encouragement to do so and secondly we were never introduced to any female role models in the industry. I can't remember a time at school when a career in engineering was ever spoken about to the girls. It was always 'nursing' or 'customer service' roles. In fact I was encouraged NOT to take up subjects that were traditionally 'not for girls' 


    I have two nieces now and actively encourage them to explore the whole breadth of opportunities that are nowadays available to them and this includes (as you would expect from having an Auntie that works for the IET) introducing them to the wonders of engineering and technology. ?


Community Rules & Guidelines