Press Releases

January 13, 2004

Women Challenging Notions of What’s Considered “Women’s Work”

Women nationwide are breaking the glass ceiling by seeking employment opportunities in what has been traditionally labeled as “men’s work.”  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Nontraditional occupations are those where women comprise 25 percent or less of the total workers.” These jobs include everything from aerospace engineer to wood machinist. Women are finding higher wages, good benefits, and advancement opportunities in male-dominated industries. Pathways Career Success Strategies, Hudson, Wisconsin, has expanded its services to include helping women break into and succeed in nontraditional occupations.
 

“Besides higher wages, women seek work that has been traditionally held by men for the same reasons as men- it’s work they enjoy,” says Joan Runnheim, owner of Pathways Career Success Strategies.
 

Runnheim’s experience working for a previous employer includes successfully helping women break into the construction industry. She also worked on a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor assisting auto dealerships in the recruitment and retention of women service technicians (aka mechanics). Runnheim coordinated a first-of-its-kind networking event for women in the auto service industry. According to Runnheim, “Working in a male-dominated industry has its unique challenges.” To address these challenges, she has conducted workshops on “Working in a Male-Dominated Environment” and “Preventing Sexual Harassment.”

For more information on Pathways Career Success Strategies, visit www.pathwayscareer.com or call 715-549-6432.