- FMA
- The Fabricator
- FABTECH
- Canadian Metalworking
Categories
- Additive Manufacturing
- Aluminum Welding
- Arc Welding
- Assembly and Joining
- Automation and Robotics
- Bending and Forming
- Consumables
- Cutting and Weld Prep
- Electric Vehicles
- En Español
- Finishing
- Hydroforming
- Laser Cutting
- Laser Welding
- Machining
- Manufacturing Software
- Materials Handling
- Metals/Materials
- Oxyfuel Cutting
- Plasma Cutting
- Power Tools
- Punching and Other Holemaking
- Roll Forming
- Safety
- Sawing
- Shearing
- Shop Management
- Testing and Measuring
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Tube and Pipe Production
- Waterjet Cutting
Industry Directory
Webcasts
Podcasts
FAB 40
Advertise
Subscribe
Account Login
Search
From tough welder to nurturing woman: It’s OK to be both
Female welders from Illinois welding program open up about balancing traditional expectations
- By Amanda Carlson
- September 10, 2019
A few months ago I received an email from Ed Youdell, president of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, also known as my boss’s boss’s boss. The email was addressed to me, which obviously piqued my interest. Why would the president be contacting me, of all people?
I opened the email before I had the chance to freak out and assume the worst. The contents included a brief message that said something to the effect of, “Thought you might find this interesting,” and an embedded photo of nine women welders all enrolled in the program at Elgin Community College, which is quite literally just down the street from FMA headquarters.
I took a look at the photo again. Nine women? That seemed like a lot.
I reached out to Dave Reich, ECC welding instructor, and we made arrangements to gather as many of these nine women as possible to talk. Between work and life, we managed to gather four of the nine. The result is the cover story for the September/October issue of the The WELDER, “It’s not starting over, it’s starting with experience.”
Among the many topics that cropped up during our discussion, the one theme that stood out was the idea that you don’t have to abandon your femininity and your desire to nurture others in order to be tough, to enjoy hard work, or to thrive in an environment that is not traditionally occupied by women. That it’s OK to be both tough and nurturing.
Listening to them talk about traditional expectations, I realized that each woman had probably asked herself whether that’s indeed true at one point or another. I realized the answer may not always have been obvious.
Three of these four women are mothers and have the unique challenge of balancing their work persona as the tough welder with the many roles of motherhood—nurturer, disciplinarian, nurse, chauffer, chef, mediator, comforter – the list goes on. In some ways, welding has brought out the toughness and confidence in them that they didn’t know existed. In other ways, it’s generated skepticism or criticism from external sources who don’t understand.
That’s why these nine women welding together at ECC is such a great thing. They’ve provided the validation that yes, you can be both, to one another every day. In addition to that, they’ve pushed, supported, and even celebrated one another’s achievements. While welding and navigating through various life circumstances have revealed the strength they already had, the support and validation these women have provided one another has helped to reaffirm that strength.
I am reminded of a quote from the late Jessi Combs—television personality, racer, and metal fabricator who earned the designation as the fastest woman on four wheels—that she certainly exemplified. I got the chance to speak to her over the phone back in 2011 for an article I wrote about PPE for women.
“If you are detail-oriented, thrive on the ability to be the tough girl, and aren’t afraid to go out and get dirty while building things like bridges and cars, but still go home and be the woman you were wired to be, then go for it. Welding is very empowering and very rewarding.”
Yes, it’s OK to be both.
subscribe now
The Welder, formerly known as Practical Welding Today, is a showcase of the real people who make the products we use and work with every day. This magazine has served the welding community in North America well for more than 20 years.
start your free subscriptionAbout the Author
Amanda Carlson
2135 Point Blvd
Elgin, IL 60123
815-227-8260
Amanda Carlson was named as the editor for The WELDER in January 2017. She is responsible for coordinating and writing or editing all of the magazine’s editorial content. Before joining The WELDER, Amanda was a news editor for two years, coordinating and editing all product and industry news items for several publications and thefabricator.com.
About the Publication
- Stay connected from anywhere
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Fabricator.
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Welder.
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Tube and Pipe Journal.
Easily access valuable industry resources now with full access to the digital edition of The Fabricator en Español.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
- Trending Articles
Sheffield Forgemasters makes global leap in welding technology
ESAB unveils Texas facility renovation
Engine-driven welding machines include integrated air compressors
How welders can stay safe during grinding
The impact of sine and square waves in aluminum AC welding, Part I
- Industry Events
16th Annual Safety Conference
- April 30 - May 1, 2024
- Elgin,
Pipe and Tube Conference
- May 21 - 22, 2024
- Omaha, NE
World-Class Roll Forming Workshop
- June 5 - 6, 2024
- Louisville, KY
Advanced Laser Application Workshop
- June 25 - 27, 2024
- Novi, MI