According to him Construction Observatory2024 has added more than 16,000 women In the construction sector, which is equivalent to a 11.4% of the total people occupied in this activity. The increase with the previous year was 3.5%, exceeding the growth recorded in the set of economic sectors. One of those women is Jennifer Lópeza 26 -year -old Barcelona who was always clear that plumbing would be his profession.
According to the report of the Construction Labor Foundationonly 10.7% of workers in the sector have less than 30 years. In the group of 55 years or more, the female presence in construction is also less, with a 18.7% compared to 20.7% in other sectors. The greatest proportion of women is concentrated in the age range of 30 to 54 yearswhich represents the 70.6% of the women’s total in construction.
Despite his young age, Jennifer has been exercising almost 11 years. He began accompanying his stepfather Antonio with 15 years and fell in love with the profession. He did not hesitate at any time to study: Cycle of professional training of mechanics and welding. In the morning I went to classes and the afternoons dedicated them to work in Antonio’s company, The medina drop.
Jennifer López, Fontanera.
“I didn’t see myself in a kitchencooking as a chef or hairdresser. I saw myself fixing things And I liked it, so I started going with my stepfather and I loved it. As I have lived since childhood, it is something that has caught my attention, “says Jennifer in conversation with Spanish.
Greater male presence
Although the Catalan feels a great predilection for her work, she has not been easy for him to have a hole in the industry. Jennifer has lived unpleasant situations in her work environment, simply because she is women In a sector dominated by men.
When her stepfather Antonio was teaching her the profession, she took her to the different places to help her repair what was needed. In this way, she learned practicing. However, the first clients who attended did not trust it because they were women and youngso it was Antonio who ended up doing the job.
“The client did not dare to be repaired for being young and wife. I felt that if it happened to me many times, I was not going to be able to progress.”
Not only has he seen in the first person how they act when they see a woman working in plumbing, but also receives sexist comments in the profile of Tiktok of the company. Jennifer is clear that although not all the messages he receives are to his liking, using social networks showing women working is the best way to make visible and attract To more women.
“If we get many to demonstrate, to give us visibility, I believe that there will be many more women who tomorrow say, because I look, I am interested in plumbing. I am not interested in being a clerk, I am not interested in being cutting my hair … I am interested in plumbing or carpentry.”
Luckily, these episodes have not lived them with co -workers, who have even left in defense of the company’s women when the client has made comments vexatious To his companions.
“We are always women to the houses, because in the company we are almost all women, and a man. There is a partner with one of us because there are clients trying bind With us and it is an awkward moment. That you are working and that they act all the time so it is quite unpleasant. Slug comments we also listen and our colleagues stop the feet of customer When they surpass. “
FEMINISM IN CONSTRUCTION
Jennifer has grown up in a family full of women who have dedicated all their lives to construction, and being part of the growing number of women in this sector is a “pride” for her. In Antonio’s company, most workers are women And, although she is accustomed to dealing with classmates, she is aware of the increase in female presence in construction.
“For two or three years I have seen an increase in women who are dedicated to the same as me. There is a greater visibility, but we have to continue working so that the girls consider that you can work as a plumber and that it is equally respectable than being a cook or administrative.”
To do this, the company Bricodepot Organize events in schools aimed at girls of ESO, with the aim of publicizing the profession. This year, Jennifer participated in which she was held in Majadahonda, aimed at 15 -year -old girls. There we taught them to weld and performed some practices related to carpentry.
“We show you that women can also perform this type of trades And that it is possible to make a living working as plumberwhich is not just a hobby. I liked it a lot because, being the youngest, I looked very reflected in them when I was age. It is a pride that they have with me to give more visibility to women in the sector. “
