r/BlueCollarWomen

Anyone here part of IBEW? I reallllly want to apply for an apprenticeship but wondering how competitive/ hard it is to get in....

Will take any advice! And am looking into Denver 68

34y/o Pipefitter apprentice here. I recently worked with a guy who said what I personally think is some off the wall shit. All of the guys I work with agreed it was messed up when I told them but for some reason I keep thinking about it and am wondering if I was blowing things of of proportion and they were agreeing with me to pacify me. I also just need to vent to people who aren’t men lol

Said man was a traveler at my local and has since dragged so not too worried about having to work with him again.

These are the things he said to me within the span of approximately 4 working days. Nothing in particular that he said had me clutching my pearls, it was just the sheer volume of it that shocked me. Not everything he said was sexist, but it was all passively confrontational. To my knowledge he didn’t talk to anyone else on our small crew this way and every time he said one of these things, it was a conversation that HE initiated. Sometimes it was 1on1 and sometimes there were a few of us standing around. I’ve been in the trade for a year and this was the first time I’ve encountered someone like this. He was a newcomer to the crew and I was short with him when he said these things but obviously got along great with everyone else and I think he realized he was an outsider and started just leaving me alone.

1 Asked me about my process getting into the apprenticeship and then told me that I got into the apprenticeship relatively quickly because I’m a woman and “if you were a brown woman they really would have let you in right away”

2 Asked me if I knew why women make better welders. Not the first time I’d heard this so I told him that most guys have told me it’s because we have steadier hands and better attention to detail. He said no, it’s because you put makeup on backwards in the mirror every day.

3 “Watch out everyone!! There’s a woman driving the lift and she has red hair!!” (My hair isn’t red, it’s brown)

4 Made a comment about “fucking fat bitches” then looked at me and immediately goes “OH SORRY no offense” then made some weird comment about pussy and fish

5 Asked what I had for dinner before work (we worked the night shift), hears what I had, with shocked look on his face “oh wow that’s very healthy of you”

6 commented on my clothes and hairstyle if I did anything different than what he had seen me in prior
“Oh trying out a beanie under the hard hat today, huh?” “Wow jeans and a tshirt, no bibs today!” “That ring is going to deglove you if you’re not careful”(my silicone wedding ring) “I see you’re wearing a braid today instead of the space buns”

7 Sees me reading on break and asks about it. Making conversation I told him my goal is to read 35 books this year and this one is number 9. “Ok but how many of those do you actually read because if you listen to them it doesn’t count”

8 Made some comment about the apprentices, referring to us as kids, he had already pissed me off so I snapped at him that I’m not a kid I’m a grown ass woman. He said well you’re a kid in the trade and I said yeah I’m really new, practically a baby in the trade. He goes “well at least you’re not a baby dancer (stripper)”

Fresh apprentice here, about to work her very first summer in the bright California sun. What do yall do about sun exposure on your arms and body? I tried T-shirt and sun screen, but disliked feeling greasy, and having to think about re-applying. I've tried a couple brands of UV rated shirts (one from Kohl's, one from REI) and both made me feel extremely swampy.

Is there a sun shirt that doesn't feel like a trash bag? Can I wear those fluorescent t-shirts I see some construction workers wear, or are those insufficient? Should I suck it up and grease up my arms every hour? What do you guys like to do?

Please help me lol I am a high body temp wise

I sweat at anything above like 50°F lol

And I got such thick thighs 😭

I ain't never been good at shopping for pants 😩

I hate my job so much, everyday I wake up and dread going to work. I regret not staying in college because now I cant affordto go back... I'm tired of having to work 20 times as hard as my coworkers to only be able to do half what they can. I'm tired of being mocked for enjoying "girly" things... like no shit I'm a fucking girl. I miss getting my nails done and feeling beautiful. I hate that we have an amazing maternity leave policy because I dont think i will ever feel safe enough in this field to get pregnant. I even hate that I make good money because it makes me feel trapped here, I'm only 25 how am I supposed to do this forever? People who left the trades how? What do you do now?

Yes, yes I do. Why? Because I was absorbed in my task. I wear ppe, but I wasn't going out of my way to avoid getting dirt/dust/oil on my face. Sure I'm going to avoid a crazy hydraulic spray or nasty oil dump. Of course. No, I am not worried about dirty simple green dripping on me when I am cleaning overhead.

Is it ideal? No.

Fo I give a shit if I look dirty while I am fixing million dollar machines? Also no.

But aaaalways I get told this. I wiped my face off after today, in annoyance because I just don't want to fucking hear it and then got "well at least you got the dirt off your face?"

I'M WORKING.

It's not MEK. It's not battery acid.

Leave me the fuck alone.

Yes, I have noticed that other people manage to NOT get dirty faces. I also notice that I'm often putting my whole pussy into getting something done. Idfk. I don't quite believe the "if you ain't dirty, you ain't working" macho bullshit but sometimes it's like....yeah I'm fighting for my fucking life over here.

This comes less than a week after the doctor appt where I found out I need surgery and will need to take 8 weeks of fmla - feels a bit like retaliation?

I work in landscape and excavation. I’ve recently been informed that my Forman is spreading rumors throughout the company about my personal life as well as talking negatively about my performance at work (but hasn’t addressed with me?)
So yesterday I was shoveling gravel into a wheel barrow and moving it, with my disability I am not able to carry an entire wheel barrow full (but believe you me I can swing a pick and dig a trench etc no problem like I get the job done and the few accommodations I do need have been discussed and approved by upper management.) my Forman came up and aggressively said “let’s fill the wheel barrow all the way you ya?” And I said “ok can you help” with an attitude ngl. This spiraled into me telling him that I’m upset with him because of all the rumors he’s spreading about me and implying that I’m faking my disability to the rest of the team. That I’m in chronic pain every single day and still show up to a job and work my ass off for my Forman who talks shit about me. He yelled at me telling me that I have a “shitty fucking attitude” which isnt entirely true- ive stopped talking to him at work and only communicate about work related stuff and any personal question he asks i usually reply with “fine” or “good” but no longer choose to share any details about my life outside of work and medical stuff that i have to disclose. Since then he’s been really grumpy and upset about it and i hear about him talking to other people in the company saying “she won’t talk to me anymore” so it’s entirely that I’ve just chosen not to be his “friend” and he’s butt hurt about it.
Currently being told that the owner will have a meeting with me in 3 days, meaning I don’t have any hours/income for this week, meaning I will not be able to pay my rent, meaning I will be homeless in two weeks lol and my Forman KNOWS I’ve been financially struggling because we haven’t gotten a 40hr week in over 6mo.

Side quest suggestions very welcome, who’s doing sw on the side? Socks? lol

I have almost no experience, I know a guy in the union, I have a degree in psychology, I am a rugby fullback, I am eager to learn, and my dream is to make my own business in HVAC someday.

Would it be a good idea to tell them I want to make my own business someday? Will that show that I am dedicated or will that show I am going to leave them someday?

I've been in construction for 5 years now and I'm a journeyman. I'm the only woman in our local. I have dealt with a lot, and have thick skin. There is one guy who is relentless. I've asked him to leave me alone, yet he still continues to run his mouth. He does this to a lot of my coworkers as well.

Is there a professional way to handle this or should I just flip out? I can't take it anymore. If anyone has any advice on what has worked for you I would appreciate it!

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask. I'm assuming a lot or all of you work in the heat. What are you guys doing with your hair when it's really hot? I have long thick hair it gets frizzy and stuck to my face it's really annoying when it's humid and 100 degrees. Hoping you guys have some ideas to help with this. Tia

I am at my first Oxy/Acetylene class after orientation and forgot my fucking gear. The teacher is giving me a lot of shit and acting like I'm the dumbest student he's ever had. 🙄 He couldnt even be sympathetic. Fucking men........

I tested positive for my first pregnancy in March and last week I had finally let my foreman know that I was expecting and they were very happy for me. I hadn’t been in for my first ultrasound but I told them not knowing that if your baby stops developing, you don’t miscarry right away. So with how far along I was I thought the possibility of me miscarrying was much lower at that point. That same week I had went in for my ultrasound and found out that my baby had stopped developing and I started miscarrying the next day. I had spent the last month planning on this December baby and now the thought of going back to work after losing this baby and being around all dudes is incredibly depressing to me. Just wanted to know if any of you girls have been through this. I’m 21 been in sheet metal since I was 17 and going through a point in my life where I don’t have a lot of women friends. Now that my husband and I are trying to have a baby I’m starting to feel really lonely.

I’m a fifth year apprentice. Finishing in a month. Just came to a new job. We have another smaller job across the street. Just a build out/remodel and a new floor addition. My Foreman is giving me the opportunity to do it by myself. Not saying he won’t help me but he’s definitely busy.

I have adhd and I tend to get anxious when things are not in order or pressing. I’d love the opportunity to see what it is like to handle something of this magnitude but I need advice.

He said I might get a couple apprentices.

What in terms of stationery or organizational materials should I get so I’m not loosing my mind?

I’m 48, female, and a union laborer in Northeast Ohio. I have been on a heavy highway concrete crew digging out sidewalk, curb, road, as well as taking a lot of gravel, etc for a few years. I have desperately wanted to learn how to Finish concrete for years. I”ve run over and helped rake so much concrete I instinctively know when that truck is getting low before it rattles. A few weeks ago I was forming sidewalk with this really religious dude who definitely did not want to spend the day with a woman not related or married to him. My boss gave my job to an apprentice with 2 weeks in the next day. Second I saw what happened, I started making phone calls. I left early to go talk to some folks. Had 3 jobs offered by the next day so, I asked to join the pour and Finish crew. They’re SO busy. No one says stupid shit to me. No one climbs up into the dump truck to shit in it. They just seem excited to have help they need. Like…. I didn’t know this existed in the Midwest! Please wish me luck. I’m trying very hard for this. To have such a skill and be female should not be special. It just shouldn’t be. Every day I’m shocked that it’s 2026 and someone has missed their green light staring at me working. Like … really?

Hey ladies! I had a thought last night & I’m such an indecisive person. I’m a licensed nail tech BUT I don’t do anything with this license. It’s a hobby. My partner is an electrician and makes decent money. I thought about getting into Human Resources since I have the experience but honestly.. I don’t even know if my heart is in it anymore. I’ve thought about the apprenticeship and I’m just intimidated is all. I’m tired of office jobs and dealing with customers and employees. I’m so unhappy with my work life and office jobs is all I’ve ever known. It’s making me borderline depressed. I live in northern Va and I swear we are the data centers of the world so the jobs come in abundance. The school part doesn’t worry me I did well in school.. I guess it’s the labor part or second guessing myself on things I tend to worry myself about things that I shouldn’t.. since this is a male dominated field. What would be the cons ?

I’m looking for some lightweight work pants. I’m 6ft tall and curvy, small waist big hips. I love having a fitted waist but am also okay with mid to low rise as long as I don’t have that huge gap between my back and above my butt. Right now I’m just buying men’s carhartt from dungarees but they’re all so heavy weight. I just need my legs covered to keep the flies off since I work with livestock.