[20oney]

First off, I'm a female in a trade. I've been so stressed for a while now. The place where I work is super quiet, with the possibility of closing in mind, I don't know what to do. I'm coming to the end of my apprenticeship. I need to still be working at this place to get qualified.
The guys at work can be so hard to deal with some days. They can be the biggest wankers. And it's like them against me, the only female. Those days I really struggle.
I've been on holiday for 4 weeks now, and go back soon. My holiday has been great. Spending it all with my wonderful boyfriend and visiting all my family.
But I have felt so crappy all holiday. Like no matter how good my day has been, I have just felt so down and sad. I don't even know why.

[CANDC]

20oney, congrats on doing the apprenticeship in a male dominated trade. You have to take a lot of grief and laughing. That is how men in the trades are. find a good teaching tradesman that is not so prejudiced. He can take you under his wing.

If you feel bad, a psychiatrist or therapist could help. The stress of going back to work may be provoking you. If not this, try to translate the negatives of harassing comments to the positives of what you are accomplishing.

If you can stay cool and not get angry, you can eventually be accepted. Cutting out your own critical attitudes is a key. The w---ers is a perjorative term that indicates you may have a resentment towards them. Everybody gets harassed. They try to get people mad. It is like an initiation.

Keep in touch with pc or even private message me or any of the community liasons for questions or more info.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Originally Posted by 20oney

... felt so crappy all holiday. Like no matter how good my day has been, I have just felt so down and sad. I don't even know why.

Can you trace back the source of bad holiday feelings? Is it a dread of returning to work with the banter and lack of work? Did the feelings start as soon as the holiday began, was there some triggering event, did you have times when the feelings lifted? I find that if I can find a source for bad feelings I can handle them better. Best too I think to trackback as soon as bad feelings manifest themselves.

And who would have guessed, we poms always think Aussie blokes are models of fine, gentlemanly feelings and behaviour, sensitive to a fault, and deeply in touch with their feminine side. Another illusion shattered.

[20oney]

Originally Posted by CANDC

20oney, congrats on doing the apprenticeship in a male dominated trade. You have to take a lot of grief and laughing. That is how men in the trades are. find a good teaching tradesman that is not so prejudiced. He can take you under his wing.

If you feel bad, a psychiatrist or therapist could help. The stress of going back to work may be provoking you. If not this, try to translate the negatives of harassing comments to the positives of what you are accomplishing.

If you can stay cool and not get angry, you can eventually be accepted. Cutting out your own critical attitudes is a key. The w---ers is a perjorative term that indicates you may have a resentment towards them. Everybody gets harassed. They try to get people mad. It is like an initiation.

Keep in touch with pc or even private message me or any of the community liasons for questions or more info.

I've been there 3 years now. They are good to me, but somedays they're not. I feel pretty lucky to be working where I am, there a much worse places I guess. I don't know, I think I'm a little worries what the future holds in terms of work

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling anxious right now about your work situation 20oney.

Uncertainty can bring anxiety. You've been there for quite some time now, so the routine, the people (although not always nice) are familiar and you know the drill.

Change may be inevitable somewhere along the line at some stage.

I hope that this all works out for you.

Look after yourself.

hugs..

that's a good thing you reached out.

hope things get better!

[BobCat55]

Originally Posted by 20oney

First off, I'm a female in a trade. I've been so stressed for a while now. The place where I work is super quiet, with the possibility of closing in mind, I don't know what to do. I'm coming to the end of my apprenticeship. I need to still be working at this place to get qualified.
The guys at work can be so hard to deal with some days. They can be the biggest wankers. And it's like them against me, the only female. Those days I really struggle.
I've been on holiday for 4 weeks now, and go back soon. My holiday has been great. Spending it all with my wonderful boyfriend and visiting all my family.
But I have felt so crappy all holiday. Like no matter how good my day has been, I have just felt so down and sad. I don't even know why.

Hi.

You don't say what your apprenticeship is. Would it be possible to finish your training with another company?. If you transfer to a better male to female ratio environment, there is every reason for you to thrive and gain your qualification. Try to see the bigger picture and appreciate how fortunate you are to have the support of family and a ' wonderful ' boyfriend. Changing one thing, changes everything!.

[20oney]

Originally Posted by ManOfConstantSorrow

Can you trace back the source of bad holiday feelings? Is it a dread of returning to work with the banter and lack of work? Did the feelings start as soon as the holiday began, was there some triggering event, did you have times when the feelings lifted? I find that if I can find a source for bad feelings I can handle them better. Best too I think to trackback as soon as bad feelings manifest themselves.

And who would have guessed, we poms always think Aussie blokes are models of fine, gentlemanly feelings and behaviour, sensitive to a fault, and deeply in touch with their feminine side. Another illusion shattered.

I'm not sure why I'm feeling how I am. I want to forget about everything that happened last year and just try move on. I know the banter will continue but what can you do about that really.

[20oney]

Originally Posted by BobCat55

Hi.

You don't say what your apprenticeship is. Would it be possible to finish your training with another company?. If you transfer to a better male to female ratio environment, there is every reason for you to thrive and gain your qualification. Try to see the bigger picture and appreciate how fortunate you are to have the support of family and a ' wonderful ' boyfriend. Changing one thing, changes everything!.

Changing to a new shop now is not a good idea for me. Every shop is so different, I wouldn't get signed off. And every shop is the same, there are 3 females in my trade in my area, that's it.

[Werewoman]

I, too, am the only female in an all male job as an electronic technician and have been off and on for 30 years (I took time out to stay home with my kids and tried teaching electronics classes for a few years before going 'back' into the field).

First, you DO NOT have to take any guff off of anyone. They have no right to pick on you simply because you're a woman. Men like that are insecure cowards and the best thing to do about them is simply ignore them. Eventually, they make such arses out of themselves, they might just up and quit. I've seen it happen before.

And God forbid, should one of them ask me what makes me think I can do the work, I simply reply that I've never seen a man use his penis while doing the job, so I don't see how it's required equipment.

I'm not going to say it's been easy, but I have always managed to earn the respect of the gentlemen and the insecure cowards either go away and leave me alone, or go find another job. I am careful not to make any jokes or comments that are, or can be construed as, sexual in nature.

You have the right to do whatever work you enjoy. I don't know what field you're in, but I chose electronics because it's what my father always did for a living and I fell in love with it when I was about 7 years old. I've always loved it and intend to keep at it until I retire.

Good Luck and I hope things get better for you. It takes time, but you can learn to stick up for yourself.

WW

[avlady]

Men are insecure, they probably can even feel deep inside that you are better than them at what you do. You have to work harder than them too to get ahead inthe field. I wish you luck.

[rachelgreene2490]

Originally Posted by 20oney

First off, I'm a female in a trade. I've been so stressed for a while now. The place where I work is super quiet, with the possibility of closing in mind, I don't know what to do. I'm coming to the end of my apprenticeship. I need to still be working at this place to get qualified.
The guys at work can be so hard to deal with some days. They can be the biggest wankers. And it's like them against me, the only female. Those days I really struggle.
I've been on holiday for 4 weeks now, and go back soon. My holiday has been great. Spending it all with my wonderful boyfriend and visiting all my family.
But I have felt so crappy all holiday. Like no matter how good my day has been, I have just felt so down and sad. I don't even know why.

hi!! first of all you are doing great by proving yourself in male dominating work place, on the other hand for your stress you can try power yoga , dance and other physical activity that will definitely help you.