Retrieved from http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/lrc/documents/35_1981_12_21_p5.pdf
by Member of Hard-Hatted Women,
Cleveland, Ohio (1981)
For the first time since the temporary
influx of women into "men's jobs" d u r -
ing World War 11, the women's move-
ment of the 60's and early 70's resulted
in programs that opened u p jobs tradi-
tionally reserved for men. Cleveland
Hard Hatted Women (HHW) and
similar groups around the country are
spontaneous outgrowths of the dilem-
mas encountered by women recently
entering these jobs.
Sharing our experiences in building
our group is important to us, as we
recognize that working people are all on
the defensive these days. We need the
solidarity and comraderie of mutual
support and information-sharing to
strengthen our collective position.
* * *
Imagine working every day a t a
physically intense, possibly dangerous,
always demanding job. Some co-
workers are hostile at first, your
foreman doesn't quite know what to do
with you, upper management wishes
you'd just dry up and disappear, there's
no place to go to the john.
Maybe you work out in public-on a
construction site, servicing phones or
computers, driving a truck. You're
around different people all the time,
most of whom don't hesitate to question
your competence, if not your motives:
"Check out that broad - a man
would've finished an hour agol" "Look
at that Women's Libber!"
These are some of the little
"pleasures" of being that modern-day
phenomenon - "woman on a man's
job." No wonder we get to feeling a little
oppressed sometimes. No wonder, after
hearing of a group in Pittsburgh, some
of us got together and formed Hard
Hatted Women. No wonder many more
women in non-traditional jobs have
since joined us.
Recently we took a sampling of some
of our feelings about HHW:
HHW has lightened the load on my
job. Knowing I'm not alone in the
special problems of non-traditional
work, and having emotional and prac-
tical support makes each working day
e a s i e r for me.-Geri Braun,
steelworker.
I look forward to monthly meetings
because I experience such a positive
affirmation of myself and m y job. It
counteracts the negativism I r u n into
on the job. The women I meet w i t h are
so gutsy and independent that I love
spending the time together in such
an energy-filled atmosphere.-Kathy
Augustine, computer technician.
I think the biggest change has been
increased participation in union af-
fairs and a more solid identification
with the hourly (non-supervisory) peo-
ple on m y job.-Fran Griffith, salt
miner.
We have a great opportunity to ex-
pose people, especially women, to
alternatives-new kinds of jobs
women can do, new ways of thinking.
Perhaps we can make a small dent in
traditional stereotypes limiting
women (and men) to certain roles and
jobs.-Mary Bugbee, payphone in-
staller.
Although the "support group" theme
has been its primary basis, HHW in two
years has grown intb a group capable of
training its members to function better
on their jobs as well as in other groups.
By taking on various responsibilities
(newsletter production, planning and
chairing meetings, developing
workshops, speaking to other groups),
many of us acquired skills and the con-
fidence we needed to become more ac-
tive in other areas.
In the past year, for example, several
women have gotten much more involved
in their unions. In union locals that are
predominantly male, an extra portion
of understanding and stamina is re-
quired to assume a respected place in
union life.
Many of us have become active in the
Coalition of Labor Union Women
(CLUW) where we are working on a
proposal for a n a t i o n a l CLUW
Taskforce on hard hatted women.
This fall we celebrated our heritage
by organizing a "Rosie the Riveter Re-
union" to honor Cleveland area women
who worked in the war industries during
the 40's. These women a r e our
foremothersl We met close to 100
"Rosies" and hosted about 30 of these
women and their guests at the reunion.
Another activity reflecting o u r
broader goals was a high school career
day that focused on alternative jobs for
women. Several of us gave workshops
demonstrating our job functions and sat
on a "What's My Line" panel. We were
able to answer many questions and
dispel an amazing number of fears
about how other women, boyfriends or
family might react to women in "men's
jobs," or how doing this type of work
might jeopardize one's "femininity."
Recently we appeared on a TV news
feature series, "The New Pioneers." As
a result of seeing a woman carpenter,
truck driver, and gas company con-
struction worker, over 20 new women
came to the next HHW meeting. It's
this type of outreach that's responsible
for the growth of our group.
In addition to reinforcing our
abilities to cope with our jobs and in-
fluencing other women along these
lines, we are entering a new phase of ac-
tivity. T h e Reagan administration's
policies pose a direct threat to our jobs.
Our livelihood is a direct outcome of the
openings created by the affirmative ac-
tion programs instituted in the
mid-70's. Affirmative action cutbacks
and the weakening of the EEOC have a
concentrated impact on our jobs and on
our goals as a group.
We are working with other groups,
like CLUW and Cleveland Women
Working (an office workers' group), and
exploring avenues for defending our
right to an equal place in the workforce.
Cleveland is currently entering a
period of heavy construction. Four new
multi-million dollar office towers will be
built. How can we help to convince the
contractors a n d the unions that women
deserve a share of these jobs, that
women need these jobs as much as any
other sector of the working population
and are equally capable of learning
these jobs?
If EEOC and Affirmative Action
should lose their power as formal incen-
tives for employers or legal safeguards
for women and minorities, what can we
do in the meantime to preserve and im-
prove our current status?
We hope to work with our unions and
other groups to address these concerns.
We want to make some more "dents" in
community awareness, as well as in
changing the life-chances for women
who need a decent wage and dignity on
the job as much as any other American
worker.
[For more information on Hard Hatted
Women, write or call Ma Bugbee ( H H W
Coordinator ) , 1 1 0 2 2 C r e s c e n t Rd.,
Cleveland, Ohio 441 11. Phone 216-476-2460.]
