Jen Hudock, the Marketing and Communications Manager for Aldridge Group is featured in the ADSC Foundation Drilling Magazine for the month of February. In the article, Jen discusses how rare women in construction are and how the sector is starting to grow. She mentions initiatives set by Aldridge Electric and their inclusions for gender differences.
“Ever feel like your success is based on luck instead of your merits? Well, you’re not alone.
Constantly doubting yourself or not embracing your achievements is known to affect women far more than men. This phenomenon, known as impostor syndrome, is felt at all levels of professional experience. It can be felt in many ways, including being afraid that someone will "figure out" that you don't know exactly what you are doing all of the time or even crediting your success to being in the right place at the right time. Instead of accepting that your hard work and determination are what got you to where you are today, you become consumed with self-doubt.
The Women of Aldridge have figured out the key to overcoming imposter syndrome - become a woman in construction! Being a part of the trades gives you a sense of purpose and enhances your independence.
Joining the construction industry is an exciting way to enrich your career, build self-esteem, and even the playing field with your male counterparts. Industry-wide there is a movement to recognize and promote the success of women working in construction and construction-related fields. So what are you waiting for? Come join us!
THE WAGE GAP IS REAL
There's an old adage that says that women have to work twice as hard as men to be thought of as half as good. I’m sure we have all felt that way at some point in our careers. Thankfully, the industry is making strides to close that gap and recognize women for their contributions, and not for their gender identity.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2022, it will take another 132 years to close the global gender wage gap. The current difference is 17%!
One unique way to achieve pay equality is by joining a union. Unions help disrupt occupational segregation and level the playing field for working women. The construction trade touts one of the lowest salary gaps between male and female workers who hold the same position. At Aldridge, we are proud to report that the gap is zero. Each of our employees is compensated based on their position and the work that they perform. They are best in class at what they do.
WE CAN AND SHOULD BE DECISION-MAKERS
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
- Shirley Chisholm, First African-American woman elected to the US Congress
One of the biggest challenges seen in the industry is stereotyping women and giving them menial tasks instead of including them in the decision-making process.
Foreman Natalie Cozzi, a 20-year industry veteran, recalls multiple times throughout her career when she experienced gender discrimination, “There were times in my career when I hated my job and wanted to give up.” Those hostile work environments were riddled with gender bias where she was often thought of as ‘delicate’ and/or simply unable to perform at the same level as her male peers. This bias was sometimes perpetuated by female peers refusing to do “the dirty work.”
Natalie worked hard to forge her own path, and she was not going to turn down any task or opportunity to highlight her skills. “As a woman, a lot of times you have to work harder to prove yourself to others in the industry.”
Despite any obstacles she has faced, she has continued to thrive as a strong woman in construction, mentoring crew members and keeping morale high each day on site. “I always try to mentor women and make them realize the importance of learning their craft and being an asset. I want them to know that in order to be respected, they have to get involved, learn, and not be afraid to work hard.”
RESPECT AND INCLUSION
We all know that men and women have different communication styles and utilizing that diverse approach offers many benefits - including increased productivity, enhanced creativity and innovation, and better decision-making.
“Construction teaches you discipline, how to be a great problem solver, and how to work as a team.” - Natalie Cozzi, Foreman
These benefits happen when we work to break down stereotypes that women are not as aggressive as men and can make difficult decisions with a cool head.
“The construction industry has changed so much in recent years, and it needs more women to add good strategy to the crew.” - Leslie Simington, Groundman
By offering diverse communication styles, we can create an inclusive workplace. When employees are valued, respected, accepted, and encouraged to fully participate in their organization, they perform better and have fewer accidents. This creates a more productive and safer workplace for everybody.
“Having a workgroup with women and men creates such a different dynamic that has allowed work to be completed faster and safer than ever before.” - Amber Travis, Safety Manager
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
This year kicked off the first of what will be a yearly Women of Aldridge summit - a day of empowerment for all of our women employees. Through mentorship and encouragement, the Women of Aldridge work to promote the benefits of being a woman in construction.
Amber Travis, Safety Manager, joined the construction industry in 2018 and shares her experience entering this male-dominated field.
“Being a female in construction is a hard task from the ridicule you receive and lack of respect. I'm glad I found a contractor that would stand up for me and respect me. Being so young starting in the construction industry was not easy without having any field experience. Trying to learn the work and overcome those judgments was very difficult at first. Through working hard and always being available/ following up with anyone that asked anything from me I have come a long way. Being willing to always ask and learn more about the work we do has helped me gain a lot of respect. We have great women that work at Aldridge that have always taken me under their wing and promoted me. I also have had a great support team from my division and crews to give me a fair opportunity to take on projects and promote me with anything I wanted to do. I love seeing Aldridge hire more women and be such an advocate for them. I do everything I can to make sure they are being treated fairly and given the same opportunities I was given. I want to continue to go to conferences and be a spokesperson for Aldridge to promote our culture. I am involved in the WISE program at Slippery Rock to help encourage more women to join the trades and follow their dreams despite what others think and say.”
WE CAN AND WE WILL
Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome is not an easy feat. Practicing self-compassion, finding your champions, controlling your circle of influence, and remembering past achievements can be guiding lights on this journey of discovering your self-worth.
“Never doubt yourself or your capabilities. The right companies like Aldridge will give you all of the resources you need and help to make sure you are successful.” - LaTanya Gardner, Apprentice “
A great article, congratulations Jen!
https://www.adscfoundationdrilling.com/Foundation-Drilling-FebruaryMarch-2023/20/
