Any Women plumbers?

[SSquirrel]

I thinking of making a career change and considering training as a plumber. Any women plumbers out there who can share the pro and cons with me?

[Clanad]

At the very least it will give a new definition to the term plumbers butt! Many of the historically male dominated trades and professions are being infiltrated with those of the female persuasion. I've been a commercial pilot for many years and can well remember when the very few women pilots began showing up. Initially, they were assumed to have been selected for various reasons, none of which were related to their skills as pilots. I well remember my first 6 months proficiency check in a simulator with a newly hired female First Officer. I have to say I, being of the old school, though not that chronologically challenged, looked askance to the session, at least intially. I stifled the sexist comments, fortunately, because she was well qualified and well trained. It was an epiphany for me, to say the least. So... I would have no problems with hiring a female plumber, electrician or carpenter. Any perceived inadequacies in their skills would be dealt with in the same manner as thse of their male counterparts. Keep in mind, especially in the plumbing trade, the work can be dirty, smelly and difficult... Best of luck!

[maviscoull]

once you are trained, come up and start your own business south of aberdeen and you can make a fortune. we just cannot get a plumber up here. 4 months i waited to get a shower put in !! :(

[nessi]

My sister has just begun her second year of training to become a plumber at college and she is loving it. She was particularly enthusiatic about getting a blow torch..........

[singingfish]

My father and my boyfriend of 5 years are both plumbers and for obvious reasons it is something which i considered doing whilst I was growing up. But seriously, it's hideous. Let me just point out that I am physically pretty strong and not in the least bit interested in hair and manicures, never have been. But your hands and definitely your knees will never be the same again. Apart from that, you'll always stink of one of two things - flux or swarfega (a handwash with a heinous fragrance) no matter how often you wash. Also, you seriously have to consider that if you were working alone you would be expected to lift very heavy boilers above your head onto a wall or get the old one off the wall, smash up baths to get them out of properties which maybe several floors up and get the boiler up there in the first place. One last thing, from experience if someone wants a new bathroom installed it is usually because the current one is so revolting you wouldn't let your dog use it - and you will have to lie on the floor, get behind the minging basin neither of which has never been cleaned. On an easy day you may simply have to unblock the rotten toilet or get down into the drains. Nice. Good luck. Enjoy x