Our newest Rosie is Judy Enz of Olympia, Washington where she is a welder and welding instructor with over 30 years of experience, and now proud owner of Arc Masters School of Welding.

While on the surface starting a business in a not-so-welcoming economy may not seem like a good idea, Judy says, “Right now education is at a record high. The schools are packed and there are two-year waiting lists to get into the welding programs.” And so Judy’s school will be there to pick up the slack. “I want everybody who wants to learn to have the opportunity even if it is just enough to build your own BBQ!” she adds.

I conducted the interview over several emails– Judy keeps pretty busy with her new business, including participating on a radio program. The panel discussion, on Women in Non Traditional Jobs, was originally broadcast on July 28, 2010 for the Voices of Diversity on Community Radio KBCS 91.3 FM in Seattle. http://www.kbcs.fm

Decades ago, women were confined to very specific gender roles and occupations. Today, women are seen working in a variety of careers that in the past were completely occupied by men. So, on today’s Voices of Diversity, a status check on gender equality in the workplace. Do women still face barriers to certain professions and challenges when they decide to enter a career field that in the past has shut them out?
Host: Kevin Henry.  [Listen Online]

Here’s what she had to say in response to my questions:

What got you interested in welding?
A private welding school opened in town and friends said I should check it out since I was looking for a career. I put on a welding helmet and never looked back!

Read the rest of this entry »

Check out this brief video of welding student Kourtney Wills at the SkillsUSA competition:

You probably know by now that Arc-Zone.com has done some videos. My favorite is the Welcome To Arc-Zone video… we had a lot of fun with that one:

You can watch these on YouTube, or we have our very own Arc-Zone TV channel.

Well, we’re gearing up to do another round and have a lot of ideas for How Tos, but we’d like to hear from you! Take the poll, and / or add your ideas in the comment section of this post!

A special shout out to Becky at Lincoln Electric for sending me this link…  she knows this is an area of special interest to me (as do all of you who read this website on a regular basis).  I’ve been doing a bit of research myself lately and was disheartened to learn that according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics the percentage of women working in the welding industry has actually declined– it is now LOWER than the 6% I’ve been quoting.

Anyway, check out this program geared towards getting women interested in careers in the male dominated trades– like welding!  and let me know if your workplace or school has a special outreach program. I’d love to share your stories!

Ladies Night entices female students to male-heavy careers

by Neal Morton, The Monitor

McALLEN — Elizabeth Robertson understands why manufacturing, welding or plumbing don’t exactly sound like expected career choices for women.

“Usually they’re pushed to teaching or nursing,” the 28-year-old said. “It’s typical to think of men going out and working their tools.”

A mechanical engineering student, though, Robertson embodied the evolving gender makeup of technology jobs when she attended South Texas College’s Ladies Night on Wednesday.

CONTINUE READING AT THE MONITOR–>

Have you heard of the Make it in America Plan?  How do you think this will affect you?

From the Huffington Post:

For the Strength of Rosie the Riveter: Make It in America
by Leo W. GerardInternational President, United Steelworkers

Rosie the Riveter defiantly rolls up her blue work shirt to show off a brawny bicep. She’s a symbol of American strength.

She worked in a manufacturing job, one of millions that constructed the defense machine that won World War II for the Allies. She said, “We can do it.” And America did.

Now, however, shuttered U.S. factories and off-shored manufacturing are sapping American strength. The nation has lost more than 40,000 manufacturing plants and one-third of its manufacturing jobs, nearly six million, over the past dozen years. China is on the verge of overtaking the U.S. in manufacturing output. And Americans know it. Late in April, 58 percent of 1,000 likely voters told pollsters they believed America’s economy no longer led the world.

They also told pollsters they supported enacting a national manufacturing policy to promote resurgence of domestic production — a return to the days of a robust Rosie the Riveter and a country that could secure its independence with dynamic manufacturing capability.

Democrats in Congress heard that message. They’ve created a program called “Make It in America.” They plan to pass a series of bills to create an environment in which both Americans and American manufacturers make it.
CONTINUE READING –>

I recently ran across this awesome summer day camp for girls (too bad there isn’t one for adult women!) ROSIE’S GIRLS is a three week day camp for girls (6th-8th grade).  It a place to learn skills (carpentry, welding, etc) that build confidence.  PLUS they get to use power tools!  This is an awesome way to introduce girls to career options that even today don’t seem accessible to women (did you know that as of 2006 the Department of Labor counts only 6% of professional welders as women?! ***)

FACT: women can weld just as good (and sometimes better) than men. Brains, not brawn makes for an excellent welder… and check out these girls WELDING!

***HOLY SH&%$# ***  I just looked up more recent statistics (from 2008) and the percent of women employed in the welding/ metal industries has GONE DOWN!  WTF?  check it out:

Welding, soldering and brazing…  4.7% women (5.9% in 2006)

Sheet metal workers….  4.8% women (3.1% in 2006)

Pipelayers, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters….  1.5%  (1.9% in 2006)

Tool and die….  1%

Structural Iron / Steel…  0.9%

You can check out these reports and many others about women in nontraditional occupations from the Department of Labor online.

And lets brainstorm!  what can WE do to make these “nontraditional” occupations “traditional?”

One of the things I enjoy most about this series of the New Rosies is seeing exactly what kind of women weld…  and Jennifer Hayes is no exception.  She tells me she models part time for fun.

And even though she  supported herself as a housekeeper for a few years while going to school to become a welder…   it looks like this Canadian doesn’t mind getting dirty!

Here’s what she has  to say about her welding career so far:

What is your job?

I’ve been remiss in keeping this blog up to date on Arc-Zone.com news… LOTS going on to share.

First, we’ve added a ton of Welding Safety Gear from Miller, including welding  helmets, Respiratory Safety equipment, Heat Stress Gear, and Welding Gloves and Arc Armor Welding Apparel–  and this is in addition to all the Welding Safety Apparel we already had ready to ship!

As you’ll notice from the ad display on the left, Arc-Zone can also hook you up with a great deal:  $25 cash back if you buy a Miller Elite Series Helmet and gloves.  So if you’re in the market for a new helmet, consider doing your shopping before the September 30 deadline.

And in case you missed it, our June Newsletter has been posted online….  you’ll find tons of safety information there to help you celebrate (welding)  Safety Month!

OK, I really have nothing to do with the Indy 500, although Arc-Zone.com does count some teams and their suppliers as customers.  And my boss Jim (aka Joe Welder) has some real deal connections and is a huge fan of racing….  so this year, we’ve started a tradition, an Indy Pool of sorts (without gambling).  It was fun!  It made the outcome of the Indy 500 meaningful to me– I won $25!

What I would not have known if Jim were not such an expert (I don’t follow sports news at. all.)  is that this year there were 4 women drivers!  How awesome is that!

Do you follow racing?  who are  your favorite women drivers?