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While remaining a key concern on the human rights front, in many modern western societies the issue of equality in the workforce is becoming less of a problem. There will always be ongoing arguments to get equal rights for both men and women; and indeed, these seem to be increasing. But the fact that we are even having these discussions is an indicator that more women are starting to take jobs once deemed the domain of men.
However, there remain some industries where women haven’t made inroads. Here are five that still lack female workers.
Construction
Perhaps the most common industry where women are few would be construction. Whether constructing buildings, bridges or highways, the chances of seeing a woman on site are slim. It isn’t that women don’t want to join the construction business; it’s that many women tend to avoid the machinery necessary in the industry. The truth is a great deal of the equipment used by grader drivers or welders is suited to both sexes. Check out machinery hire sites or welding equipment sites such as that of WIA if you’re still not sure.
Technology
Apparently, there is little chance of a man finding a wife in the United States’ Silicon Valley. According to the Wall Street Journal, only 11 percent of technology industry workers are women, while others report the actual number of female workers in the industry could be as low as three percent.
Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
The number of women joining the police and ambulance services is growing but at a rate far lower than other industries that once had a reputation for male dominance. The easing on height and strength restrictions in recent decades has opened the services to more women, but the chances of being arrested or treated by a woman remain low. In the fire department it is even worse. Only a small percentage of fire services across the world have women fire fighters.
Taxi Drivers
When was the last time you hailed a taxi driven by a woman? A perception that taxi driving is unsafe has long kept women away from the industry. There aren’t exact figures on the number of women taxi drivers in the world, but it is believed to be in single or double digit percentages. For example, it is known that out of New York City’s 46,000 taxi drivers only 170 are women. This might not always be the case, as new safety features like on-board cameras, automated crisis alarms and accurate-to-the-minute GPS become normal in cabs.
Politics
A woman in politics doesn’t seem overly unusual in many countries, but they are still outnumbered by their male counterparts. The drive to increase women in governments and parliaments around the world is common with many parties setting quotas to increase female representation. But many women are put off by what is seen as a strong boys-club culture. And when they do make it into the rarefied world of politics, they have a much harder time rising to the top than their male peers.
Yes, the world is a changing place and sexism and inequality in the work force is starting to become less common. But there remain some industries where women still need to find a more secure foothold.
