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Women in trades

National group looks east

Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 12/01) - Beatrice Bernhardt empathizes with women working in trades-related jobs.

"As you may be aware, some men don't think women are good enough for these kinds of jobs," said Bernhardt, training co-ordinator for the Kitikmeot Inuit Association.

Women & work

  • women make up 46 per cent of the paid workforce
  • 70 per cent of women in the workforce are employed as teachers, nurses or other health-related occupations, clerical, sales, service, administration -- 29 per cent of men hold similar positions
  • 88 per cent of nurses are women
  • six per cent of civil engineers are women
  • 20 per cent of women are employed in natural sciences, engineering and mathematics
  • six per cent of women are employed in transportation, trades and construction
  • women make up 56 per cent of population at university and college, but only 22 per cent of population in engineering and sciences
  • only 1.6 per cent of women are enrolled in traditional, male-dominated trades
  • women earn 73 per cent of what men earn in full-time jobs

    -- Source: Statistics Canada


    • "They run into problems and these women just want to work," she said.

    "We have to make it acceptable for women so they can do carpentry or be electricians or drive heavy equipment."

    Women currently occupy less than five per cent of trades-related positions in Canada. But there is a national group working on getting more women involved.

    Women in Trades and Technology opened a chapter in the Northwest Territories in 1996.

    Former Yellowknifer Heather Hay played a key role in starting the group. She then used her skills to branch out to the Yukon and said the next step WITT wants to take was in Nunavut.

    "We're trying to make connections and find out who is available and interested in forming this group," said Hay.

    She said the organization wants a woman from Nunavut to attend the an annual conference, March 23-26, in Banff, Alta., to get the ball rolling.

    Bernhardt said Inuit culture turned patriarchal years ago when families were forced to move into communities and become a part of the wage-earning economy.

    She said the new structure created imbalances and sexist gender roles which pushed women into homes and men into the workforce.

    And Bernhardt wants that to change.

    "Women are taking initiative therefore we need women to learn some trades."

    The time is now

    With BHP and Diavik Diamond mines committed to hiring Northerners -- and several other mines and technical projects getting off the ground -- it is crucial that women be encouraged to seek available jobs.

    Vera Ayak, a truck driver in Cambridge Bay, said WITT will provide a valuable service to women in Nunavut.

    "Some women are scared or nervous," said Ayak, who is actively looking for a job at one of the mines. "I've been having a hard time and I don't know why."

    Women interested in joining the organization or helping to set up a Nunavut branch can contact a WITT representative online at www.wittnn.com.