The Trades Are “Women’s Work”

Above: The first gathering of women in glass & fenestration at GlassBuild America, 2022. The National Glass Association has been bringing this gathering to GlassBuild for the past three years, allowing women to network with each other and find support in the industry.

March is Women in Construction Month. Women in the glass and glazing industry only make up about 13% of total employment, according to the most recent statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To attract and retain women in the industry, how can companies support this demographic and address the hurdles that women, especially pregnant women and working mothers, must overcome?

Obstacles for women in the trades

One obstacle that may prevent women from pursuing a career in construction or in the trades is a lack of support for pregnant women and working mothers. In the United States, no federal law mandates paid maternity or paternity leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act provides employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave; however, there are eligibility requirements for this, and unpaid leave can present an issue for many people. Many women also have concerns about juggling a career with being a parent, especially in a male-dominated industry.

Sara Barchak serves as a marketing manager with Apogee Enterprises’ Architectural Framing Systems segment, which includes EFCO brand windows, and she is also a working mother. Barchak says one major way her company supports her is simply by providing work-life flexibility.

“Just a couple weeks ago, I got a call from daycare saying that my daughter had a fever,” says Barchak. “I was able to pop out of work, pick her up and drop her off with her grandparents without any worry that there would be repercussions for needing to leave in the middle of the day and miss a couple of meetings while I got that sorted. That kind of culture is extremely important to me.”

Another hurdle that women may experience in the trades is a general lack of support due to preconceived stereotypes about gender roles. These out-of-date ideas can lead to real-life consequences for women, including harassment, exclusion from important projects and decision-making processes, unequal pay, and limited career advancement opportunities.
Kristie Rehberger, general manager at A Glasco Inc., started in the glass industry at only 16 years old and faced adversity.

“I grew up alongside men who, at times, could be very supportive, and at other times, I allowed them to make me feel small and insignificant,” says Rehberger. “I have had men say they would not work for a female lead or owned company. I have learned to stand my ground, to speak up, and push forward.”

In 1975, the National Glass Association’s digital media specialist, Wendy Vardaman, was the first girl in her junior high to choose a drafting class over a cooking class. “I had to talk the drafting teacher into it. After I showed that it could work, and not destroy the social fabric, many other girls followed,” says Vardaman. “I tried the same with the shop teacher, and he said he wasn’t having any girls messing around his expensive and dangerous equipment.”

While this story illustrates the sad reality of gender stereotypes that begin at even such a young age, it also shows that women have strength in numbers. All it takes is one individual to stand up for their interests, and others will follow suit. It also shows that fostering young peoples’ interests, regardless of their gender, can help create a strong and skilled workforce.

Making things better

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, as of November 2024, construction employment grew by 133,000, 18,000 of which was accounted for by women. This means that about one in seven jobs have gone to women, helping to maintain the share of women in construction at just over 14%. Career development opportunities are one way that companies in the trades can support their female employees and their growth.

“This year, I was excited to attend the Women of Apogee Leadership Summit for the first time,” says Barchak. “Apogee Enterprises is really working to create opportunity and space for women leaders in the company to come together and network, grow and learn more.”
Barchak says that conversations at the summit ranged from work to deeper conversations that touched on infertility and pregnancy struggles with miscarriage, while being a working woman. She adds that it was refreshing to hear those real discussions, and a good reminder that we come into work as whole people.

“Our home life and personal life struggles don’t automatically shut off when you walk through the company doors. Sometimes, we physically can’t shut off. I am excited to see how this initiative to support women leaders in Apogee grows and moves forward,” says Barchak.

The National Association of Women in Construction’s core purpose is to strengthen and amplify the success of women in the construction industry. Rehberger joined NAWIC a few years ago and discovered an important member of NAWIC San Diego established a camp for teen girls, where they would introduce girls in grades 8 through 12 to the construction industry and offer hands-on learning in a safe environment.

In talking with the camp’s founder, Rehberger had the opportunity to showcase glass to the young ladies, including how to teach 70 girls how to cut glass.

“I look forward to the opportunity to showcase glass again to the young apprentices and hopefully further spark curiosity for the glazing industry,” says Rehberger. “NAWIC is all about promoting women in the construction industry. They want to ensure they are creating safe places for women to gather, feel heard and promote one another. It's inspiring to see and be a part of these wonderful events.”

Advice to women in the industry

“Fight for what you want because you matter and because it matters. In the construction industry, it's just a bunch of egos, and there are times when someone will project their fears and insecurities onto you. You have the power to say, ‘No, thank you, not today my friend,’ and push past someone else’s projected barriers,” says Rehberger to women in construction. “Women in the industry, we are stronger than many of us realize. We are working together with our allies (men who are uplifting and supportive) to better the industry and to create safer working environments for all. Let us continue our journey together.”

Barchak adds, “The industry needs you. Improvement and progress are only possible when diverse voices and backgrounds are present. Echo chambers do not produce the best results. There is so much opportunity in this industry to learn and grow and be impactful in ways you might not have considered or knew were possible. Your voice has just as much value and worth as a male coworker who has been with the company for 25 years. Stand strong in your convictions and be heard.”