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Tapping into a New Generation of Women in the Work ForcePosted 2/12/2000By Betty Kendall
As we enter the new millennium, it is interesting to reflect on the gains made by women during the past 59 years. Why 59? Because 59 years ago, women in the United States left their homes in unprecedented numbers to help their country wage a war. To release their husbands, fathers and brothers to engage in active combat, and more importantly, to bring them home safely, thousands of American women learned skills they never dreamed they could master. This was especially prominent in the shipyards and in automotive and electrical manufacturing. They found new pride in their achievements, and enjoyed community acceptance. It is a sad irony that these bright, hard-working individuals disappeared almost immediately after the peace treaties were signed. They were consigned to professional anonymity by an ungrateful culture that told them to go home where they belonged. It was popularly remandated that women were incapable of learning anything except teaching, nursing, typing and child rearing. Those women were lost to the professional world as valuable employees, role models and mentors. Ironically, many perpetuators of this intellectual and professional debacle were other women, through their advocacy of such "societal truths." Following this embarrassing chapter in the history of our country, some improvements were made. But only during the recent decade have there been encouraging signs of faster increases in female access to such rewarding and satisfying occupations. Critical to these gains has been a new generation of women. The key to survival and success in any trade or profession is the possession of a large body of specific knowledge and skill. In the case of women and minorities, informational access was the crucial bargaining chip. "I'll hire anybody who can do the job," cried the potential employers, while serving on the faculties and advisory boards of professional training facilities that denied entrance to women. Denial of access is now prosecutable, but hoarding of information as well as the frequent lack of socially comfortable work and study climates is still alive and well. Again, the remedy lies in part with women as a cultural unit. Members of professions that have a poor record in terms of recruitment and retention of females must reach out to help those who are following in their footsteps. Not just to other women, but also to men. Whenever a female journeyman extends professional enlightenment to a young man, she is helping create a climate of acceptance radically different from the one she found at the beginning. There are many professional advocacy groups available. Some 12 years ago, a group of women in Portland, Ore., all active in the automotive field, founded the Association of Women in Automotive. They listed as one of their goals the mentoring of women coming into this profession, as well as hiring female interns and apprentices. As a result of their efforts, the number of female employees has increased and, most importantly, female attrition has decreased markedly. If there is such a group in your area, join and offer to lend a helping hand. If not, form one. Look around. You'll find a surprising number of kindred souls with whom you can share technical and professional information, and with whom you can join to mentor those following in your footsteps. The entire membership of the Association of Women in Automotive is here to assure you that the rewards are numerous and incredibly heartwarming.
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Copyright (c) 1996-2008. Automotive Service Association. All rights reserved.
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