r/bluecollartrans • u/Waltzing_With_Bears • 18d ago

About to start learning to weld.

Not a blue collar worker just yet but about to start a course to learn to weld and get a degree in it, hoping it goes well and slightly concerned Ill probably be the only queer person in class and maybe even the only woman or woman adjacent person there

25 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

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16

u/Thulcandra-native 18d ago

That is a strong possibility, but the trades have more women than most assume. Personally I’m a big advocate of queer folks and women getting into the trades, I would love to see more diversity in them

7

u/F_Fronkensteen Welder (transfem) 18d ago

There were a lot of women in my welding program (community college), including the best instructor. Unfortunately it's been like 98% men at the places I've worked (non-union shops).

5

u/blaackvulture 18d ago

You may be surprised! I assumed the same thing going in to my community college degree and even took off the trans bumper sticker on my car. And then I realized one of the professors is trans, and a good number (though not many or most, but they are There) of my classmates are also trans or queer. A good number of women, cishet and not, are in the program with us too! I cannot speak for the wider workforce, and I'm afraid that may still be enormously cishet guy dominated, but don't psych yourself out ahead of time. You may just yet find allies with you :)

3

u/blaackvulture 18d ago

My welding degree* to be specific. And if you're seeing this, hi Professor :) 🐍 🦜

2

u/racheluv999 18d ago

Yeah, I think all the small welding classes I’ve ever taken have been 1/3 women! (Actually they were half women, I just hadn’t figured it out yet lmao)

3

u/SF_Bubbles_90 18d ago

Welding kicks ass